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I)LD  STONE  CHURCH 


THE      PASTOR, 
Taken  at  the  age  of  nlnety-seven 


THE  PASTOE 


>: 


OLD   STONE    CHURCH. 


MR.  HOTCHKIN'S  MEMORIAL,  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY, 
AND  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS, 

COMMEMORATIVE  OF 

REV.    ETHAN    OSBORN, 

LATE  PASTOR  OF  THE  FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,   FAIRFIELD,   NEW  JERSEY. 


PHILADELPHIA : 
WILLIAM   S.    AND   ALFRED    MARTIEN 

No.  60S  CHESTNUT  STKEET. 

1858. 


HENRY  B.   ASHMEAD,  BOOK  ANB  JOB  PRINTER, 

George  Street  above  Eleventh. 


dlfmcriiil 


REV.    ETHA-lSr    OSBORlSr, 


WHO  DIED  MAY  1,  1858, 
IN   THE    ONE   HUNDREDTH   TEAR    OF    HIS    AGE, 

By  Rev.  B.  B.  HOTCHKIN. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 


The  filial  relation  which  I  sustained  toward  the  subject  of  the 
following  sketch,  as  his  eldest  son  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Fairfield 
Church,  was  probably  the  reason  why  the  duty  of  preaching  a  Fune- 
ral Discourse  at  his  burial  was  assigned  to  myself.  I  was  afterwards 
requested  by  members  of  his  family  and  others  to  furnish  a  copy  of 
the  Sermon  for  publication.  This  I  engaged  to  do,  provided  material 
could  be  obtained  for  improving  the  biographical  notice  which  formed 
perhaps  its  only  point  of  interest.  Having  had  only  the  time  of  the 
evening  before  the  funeral  for  preparation,  I  regarded  its  historical 
details  as  too  imperfect  to  be  placed  into  permanent  form.  The 
matter  which  I  have  since  found,  has  enabled  me  to  make  such  cor- 
rections and  enlargement  that  I  do  not  regard  it  proper  to  claim  for 
the  present  production  any  identity  with  the  Funeral  Discourse.  I 
have  therefore  dropped  the  form  of  a  Sermon,  and  in  its  place  I  here- 
with present  to  my  bereaved  friends  this  "  Memorial"  of  their  vene- 
rated and  glorified  parent,  an  affectionate  tribute  to  his  memory,  and 
a  testimony  to  the  grace  that  was  in  him. 

B.  B.  H. 
Wallace,  Pa.,  1S58. 


1* 


MEMORIAL  OF  REV.  ETHAN  OSBORN. 


PART    I. 

FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  ORDINATION. 

When  we  laid  tlie  remains  of  the  sainted  father, 
of  whom  I  write,  in  their  last  resting  place,  a 
Christian  minister  stretched  his  hand  over  the  grave 
and  said — '^  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  hehold  the  up- 
right, for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peaceV  Around 
him  stood  an  audience — in  numbers  almost  an 
army — but  it  is  believed  there  was  not  a  heart 
among  them  all  to  withhold  the  responsive  '^  Amen." 
"Whether  we  consider  the  length  of  time  during 
which  such  a  character  was  borne,  the  uniformity 
with  which  it  was  sustained,  the  blending  of  energy 
and  inojQTensiveness  in  acting  it  out  before  the 
world,  or  the  consistency  of  the  various  experiences 
and  acts  which  make  up  the  life,  we  are  impressed 
with  the  propriety  of  applying  the  highest  Scriptural 
terms  for  describing  the  good  man,  to  the  late  Fair- 
field Pastor.  We  adopt  them,  not  in  their  unquali- 
fied meaning,  but  in  the  comparative  sense  which 
alone  justifies  their  application  to  beings  this  side  of 
heaven. 


8  COMPLETENESS  OF  CHARACTER. 

A  Stranger,  brought  for  the  first  time  into  the 
company  of  Father  Osborn,  would  observe  an  air  of 
general  goodness  and  Christian  simplicity  in  his 
speech  and  deportment;  but  he  might  wonder  what 
were  the  striking  traits— the  strong  salient  points  of 
character— which  created  his  high  reputation,  and 
preserved  it  in  growing  strength  through  more  than 
two  human  generations.  Closer  intimacy  would 
reveal  the  secret  of  this  wonder.  The  strength  of 
his  character  did  not  lie  in  individual  traits,  and 
this  memorial  of  his  life  will  have  little  to  say  of 
salient  points.  In  the  unity  of  his  excellences'^  lay 
the  hiding  of  their  power.  His  life,  as  a  whole, 
was  a  striking  life.  All  its  parts  revealed  the  ever- 
present  influence  of  Divine  grace.  In  the  intima- 
cies of  home  or  out  among  men,  in  sacred  or  secular 
duties,  in  seasons  of  festivity  or  in  the  chambers 
of  the  dying,  in  the  church  or  in  the  world,  his 
demeanor  was  uniformly  marked  by  habitual  com- 
munion with  God.  It  is  true,  there  were  fine  traits 
in  his  mental  constitution;  still  we  feel  our  chief 
indebtedness  to  the  grace  of  God  that  was  in  him, 
for  the  precious  fragrance  of  his  memory. 


Eev.  Ethan  Osborn,  the  subject  of  tliis  memorial, 
was  born  in  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  August  21, 
1758.  I  am  indebted  to  one  of  his  relatives  resid- 
ing in  that  place,  for  a  few  statistics  respecting  his 
family,  which  his  near  friends  will  be  glad  to  see 


FAMILY  LONGEVITY.  9 

preserved.  The  remarkable  longevity  wliicli  the 
record  exhibits,  will  also  engage  the  attention  of 
the  general  reader. 

His  father,  Capt.  John  Osborn,  died  January  7, 
1814,  aged  eighty-six  years.  His  mother,  (maiden 
name,  Lois  Peck,)  died  ITovember  28,  1819,  aged 
eighty-seven.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  died  at  ages  ranging  from 
seventy-nine  to  ninety-nine,  viz:  John,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine;  Ethan,  ninety-nine;  Elia- 
da,  eighty-six;  Rebecca,  (Mrs.  Samuel  Seymoure,) 
eighty;  and  Elizabeth,  (Mrs.  Ebenezer  Marsh,) 
seventy-nine.  One  daughter,  Anna,  (Mrs,  James 
Riley,)  died  at  the  earlier  age  of  forty-six.  Two 
children  died  in  youth — Heman,  while  a  member 
of  Dartmouth  College,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
Lois,  aged  twenty-one.  There  is  one  survivor,  Mrs. 
Thalia  Kilbourn,  Widow  of  Whitman  Kilbourn, 
now  eighty-one  years  of  age,  in  good  health,  and  a 
regular  attendant  at  church  in  Litchfield,  three 
miles  from  her  home. 

It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  give,  in  this 
place,  another  table  of  longevity  among  the  early 
friends  of  Mr.  Osborn.  It  was  communicated  to 
me  from  the  necrological  records  of  Dartmouth 
College,  through  the  kindness  of  Rev.  John  Rich- 
ards, D.  D.,  of  Hanover,  (N.  H.,)  the  seat  of  the 
College.  Of  Mr.  Osborn's  class,  seventeen  in  num- 
ber, eleven  are  known  to  have  died  at  the  following 
ages  respectively:  Mr.  Jacob  Osborn,  (cousin  to 
Ethan,)  sixt^^-two ;   Rev.    Christopher  Page,  sixty- 


10  EARLY  LIFE. 

four;  Eev.  Gilbert  Tennent  Williams,  sixty-four; 
Rev.  Solomon  Aiken,  seventy-five ;  Rev.  William 
Montague,  seventy-six ;  Rev.  John  Wilder,  seventy- 
eight;  Rev.  Nathan  Church,  eighty-two;  Rev.  Wil- 
liam F.  Rowland,  eighty-two;  Rev.  Thomas  Gross, 
eighty-four;  Rev.  David  Porter,  D.  D.,  eighty-nine; 
Rev.  Ethan  Oshorn,  ninety-nine.  Almost  cotem- 
poraneously  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Osborn,  a  college 
associate  of  a  previous  class.  Rev.  Zechariah  Greene, 
of  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight  years, 
passed  to  the  world  of  spirits. 

The  records  of  Mr.  Osborn's  early  life  are  few. 
There  are  almost  none  living  to  tell  us  the  incidents 
of  his  childhood  and  youth,  or  even  his  entrance 
upon  public  life.  My  chief  resources  for  his  per- 
sonal history  until  the  first  third  of  the  duration  of 
his  pastorate  had  expired,  are  two  auto-biographi- 
cal discourses,  and  his  occasional  reference  to  the 
events  of  that  period  in  conversation  with  myself 
or  others  who  have  favored  me  with  their  recol- 
lections. 

In  the  year  1822,  having  been  the  Pastor  of  the 
Fairfield  congregation  more  than  thirty  years,  he 
gave  to  the  people  an  account  of  his  life  and  labors 
up  to  that  time,  in  the  two  discourses  mentioned 
above,  preached  on  consecutive  Sabbaths,  using  for 
his  text,  Acts  ;s:x.  18 — "Ye  know  from  the  first  day 
that  I  came  into  Asia,  after  what  manner  I  have 
been  with  you  at  all  seasons."*    These  sermons  will 

■"  For  a  copy  of  the  first  of  these  discourses — the  most  important, 
because  reaching  back  beyond  all  other  means  of  information — I  am 


AUTO-BIOGRAPHICAL  SERMONS.  11 

contribute  largely  to  the  narrative  wliicli  follows. 
He  approached  his  subject  through  the  following 
apology  for  bringing  himself  so  prominently  into 
the  pulpit — an  apology  which  the  reader  will  not 
require,  when  it  is  remembered  that  he  had  even 
then  filled  out  an  ordinary  day  and  generation  of 
ministerial  labor. 

"Having  lived  and  labored  among  you  in  the  gospel  ministry 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  it  seems  reasonable  that  T\^e  should 
take  a  brief  review  of  the  ground  we  have  traveled  over,  and  of 
God's  dealings  with  us.  It  is  hoped  that  such  a  review  may 
afford  us  some  lessons  of  useful  instruction.  The  general  design 
of  these  discourses  is  to  lay  before  you  some  of  the  principal 
events  which  have  occurred  during  my  residence  among  you,  and 
as  I  pass  along,  to  express  my  thoughts  and  opinions  respecting 
them.  This  I  shall  do  with  the  utmost  freedom,  and  shall  per- 
haps disclose  to  you  some  of  my  secret  thoughts  which  have 
never  yet  been  made  known.  The  time  has  arrived  when  I  have 
nothing  to  fear  from  such  a  frank  disclosure.  My  motives  of 
action,  my  regard  or  disregard  of  your  welfare,  are  known  to  God, 
and  must  ere  long  be  known  to  yourselves,  whether  I  speak  them 
out  or  not.  You  have  been  eye  and  ear  witnesses  of  the  principal 
events  of  providence  and  grace  which  we  shall  review,  and  thanks 
to  God !  many  of  you  have  been  heart  witnesses  by  your  own 
happy  experience.'' 

He  then  introduced  the  review  of  his  pastoral 
labors  with  some  notices  of  his  childhood  and  youth, 
including  his   early  religious   experience,   and  his 

indebted  to  the  care  of  J.  Barron  Potter,  M.  D.,  of  Bridgeton,  whose 
reverential  regard  for  its  author  led  him  many  years  ago,  to  secure 
it  from  the  oblivion  which  otherwise  would  probably  have  befallen 
it.  The  last  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  find  among  the  manuscripts 
of  Mr.  Osborn. 


12  FIEST  RELIGIOUS  IMPRESSIONS. 

entrance  upon  the  great  work  of  his  life,  the  min- 
istry of  salvation.  The  account  must  have  heen 
highly  welcome  to  his  people  of  that  day,  but  his 
giving  it  was  especially  providential  for  us,  after  this 
lapse  of  thirty-six  more  years.  Beginning  with  his 
childhood  in  Litchfield,  he  proceeds — 

"  My  condition  and  school  education  were  like  those  of  other 
children  in  my  native  place.  I  was  favored,  thanks  to  God !  with 
religious  parents  and  a  religious  education.  My  parents  are 
gone  to  their  long  home,  and  I  trust  sleep  in  Jesus.  They  trained 
me  in  the  habit  of  attending  public  worship,  but  for  some  years 
I  went  to  meeting  rather  reluctantly,  or  against  my  inclination. 
Some  alarming  providences  impressed  my  mind  with  serious 
thoughts  of  death  and  the  judgment.*  This  was  perhaps  before 
the  age  of  nine  or  twelve  years.f  After  my  serious  impressions 
began,  I  went  to  religious  meetings  without  persuasion  or  driving. 
I  then  went,  not  to  see  and  be  seen,  but  to  hear  the  word  of  God, 
and  to  learn  how  I  must  escape  the  wrath  to  come  and  obtain 
eternal  life.  The  Sabbath  became  a  most  welcome  day,  which  I 
tried  to  keep  holy,  and  improve  for  my  best  spiritual  interests, 
for  this  was  my  principal  concern.  Compared  with  my  souVs 
salvation,  every  affair  of  this  life  appeared  low  and  trifling. 

"  About  this  time  I  began  secret  prayer,  which  I  have  continued 
more  or  less  to  this  day,  though  I  am  conscious  that  I  have  often 
been  too  remiss  in  it.  *  *  -x-  *  I  fgit  conscious  that  the  eyes  of 
the  Lord  were  upon  me,  and  I  fully  resolved  carefully  to  avoid 
whatever  would  incur  his  displeasure,  and  to  do  whatever  my 
conscience  and  his  word  and  Spirit  should  tell  me  was  my  duty. 
But,  like  David,  I  soon  found  that  innumerable  evils  had  com- 
passed me  about,  and  mine  iniquities  had  taken  hold  upon  me.  I 
found  that  my  own  strength  was  weakness ;  temptations  assaulted 


*  The  alarming  providences  here  referred  to  were  two  shocking 
casualties,  each  resulting  in  the  death  of  a  family  relative, 
f  Does  he  not  mean  bekveen  nine  and  twelve  ? 


MATURED  EXPERIENCE.  13 

me  and  too  often  prevcailed  against  me;  yet  like  Job,  I  tried  to 
hold  fast  mine  integrity. 

"  When  I  was  preparing  for  college,  wliile  studying  the  Greek 
Testament,  I  saw  more  clearly  than  ever  the  amiable  excellency 
of  our  Saviour.  My  mind  was  enamored  of  his  heavenly  beauty, 
and  my  soul's  desire  was  to  be  like  him  and  with  him.  ^t^r 
since,  I  have  had  a  trust  that  I  have  received  the  Saviour  by 
faith,  and  am  interested  in  the  special  favor  of  God  through  his 
merits  and  mediation,  though  it  often  seems  too  exalted  a  favor 
and  blessedness  for  such  a  sinner  to  expect.  And  scarcely,  if 
ever,  do  I  feel  that  assurance  of  salvation  which  I  desire.  May 
the  Lord  perfect  in  us  all  that  which  is  lacking  of  grace,  faith, 
and  assurance  V 

We  cannot  now  tell  liow  much  distrust  of  his  own 
acceptance  with  God,  he  intended  the  last  two  sen- 
tences should  express.  It  is  certain  that  in  his  later 
years,  he  was  a  living  illustration  of  the  peace  which 
the  full  assurance  of  hope  affords.  In  the  last  inter- 
view which  the  writer  had  with  him,  a  few  months 
previous  to  his  death,  to  the  question,  "How  do  you 
do.  Father  Oshorn?"  he  replied  in  his  cheery  tone, 
"I  am  very  well,  thanks  to  a  merciful  Providence! 
well  in  hody,  and  in  good  spiritual  health."  If  any 
regard  such  a  reply  as  presumptuous,  let  them  con- 
sider the  man,  the  spiritual  experiences  of  a  long, 
long  life,  and  his  consciousness  of  his  then  present 
position  on  the  threshold  of  eternity,  and  then  say 
what  other  testimony  they  would  have  him  give 
respecting  the  work  of  God  in  his  soul. 

In  the  foregoing  outline — for  it  is  only  an  out- 
line— of  a  long  travel  from  carnal  security  to  a  full 
appreciation  of  Christ  his  Saviour,  the  discerning 
2 


14  FIRST  SACRAMENTAL  COMMUNION. 

reader  must  have  noticed  liow  distinctly  the  j^rogres- 
siveness  of  Divine  influences  on  his  heart,  is  In-ouglit 
out.  "We  first  find  him  under  the  alarms  of  a  Provi- 
dential warning,  and  with  some  rising  convictions 
of  sin  and  righteousness,  striving  to  do  what  is  right. 
Then  through  years  of  legal  experience — perhaps  in 
the  twilight  of  grace — he  tries  to  hold  fast  his  integ- 
rity, tries  to  keep  the  Sabbath  holy,  and  avoids  what 
he  thinks  will  incur  the  displeasure  of  God,  because, 
as  he  says,  "I  felt  conscious  that  the  eyes  of  the 
Lord  were  upon  me."  At  length  ^'the  amiable  excel- 
lency of  our  Saviour''  unclouds  itself  before  his  soul, 
and  Christ  is  to  him  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteous- 
ness. "Where  should  such  a  gradually  developing 
experience  rest,  short  of  that  faith  which,  standing 
on  the  shore  of  time,  sends  back  the  testimou}^ — "I 
know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth  !" 

The  following  sentence  closes  his  account  of  his 
early  religious  experience: — 

"  While  I  was  a  student  in  Dartmouth  College,  I  was  admitted 
to  full  communion  with  the  Presbyterian^-'  Church  there.  Never 
shall  I  forget  the  first  time  I  partook  of  the  Lord^s  supper.  My 
mind  was  solemnly  and  devoutly  exercised,  and  with  a  good 
degree  of  consolation.'' 

The  reader  will  regret  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  foregoing  account  runs  over  the  period  included 
in  it.  I  have  no  means  of  supplying  its  deficiency 
of  incidents  in  his  spiritual  experience,  except  as  I 
have  heard  him  refer  to  the  influences  which  he 

"   Congregational  ? 


IN  THE  ARMY.  15 

enjoyed  under  a  work  of  grace  among  the  students 
during  liis  college  course.*  He  spoke  of  those  in- 
fluences as  liaving  wrought  in  his  soul  new  and 
enlarged  views  of  the  blessedness  of  laboring  for 
Christ,  but  whether  they  were  the  immediate  cause 
of  his  selection  of  the  gospel  ministry  for  the  work 
of  his  life,  I  am  not  informed.  In  estimating,  at 
this  distant  period,  the  effects  of  that  revival,  there 
may  be  some  significancy  in  the  fact  that  thirteen 
of  the  seventeen  graduates  of  1T84,  (Mr.  Osborn's 
class,)  became  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

The  auto-biographical  sermons  pass  in  silence  one 
important  part  of  Mr.  Osborn's  life,  previous  to  his 
entering  college.  Perhaps  it  was  left  without  men- 
tion, under  the  impression  that  it  did  not  properly 
belong  to  his  religious  experience.  I  refer  to  his  con- 
nection with  the  army  of  the  American  Eevolution. 

He  was  eighteen  years  of  age  when  the  colonies 
were  in  the  second  year  of  their  memorable  strug- 
gle for  independence.  During  that  year,  his  native 
township  furnished  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the 
service,  and  no  one  who  knows  the  readiness  for 
self-sacrifice  and  intrepidity  for  the  right,  which 
were  elemental  in  his  natural  constitution,  will  be 
surprised  that  the  list  contained  the  name  of  Ethan 


*  I  find  in  the  sketch  of  a  sermon  preached  at  the  funeral  of  Rev. 
Zachariah  Greene,  in  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1858,  by 
Rev.  N.  C.  Locke,  furnished  for  the  New  York  Observer,  the  following 
notice  of  this  revival.  "  There  was  a  very  general  awakening  in  the 
parish  around  and  in  the  College.  Some  fifty  converts  were  the  fruits 
of  it — all  admitted  to  the  church  in  Hanover,  in  the  winter  of  1782. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  was  Sylvanus  Ripley,  D.  D." 


16  PROVIDENTIAL  DELIVERANCE. 

Osborn.  His  connection  with  the  army  was  brief, 
but  it  extended  through  one  of  the  darkest  periods 
of  the  war — the  campaign  of  1776.  He  was  with 
the  forces  under  the  immediate  command  of  Wash- 
ington, in  the  retreat  through  ITew  Jersey.  From 
this  field  of  personal  observation,  his  memory 
gathered  up  many  incidents  illustrating  the  noble- 
ness and  virtue  of  the  commander-in-chief;  and 
during  the  later  years  of  his  own  life,  his  eye  was 
rekindled  with  the  fire  of  those  days,  whenever  his 
friends  made  a  draft  upon  his  personal  recollections 
of  the  war. 

He  kept  in  his  mind  a  catalogue  of  providential 
deliverances  from  imminent  perils  of  death.  One 
of  these  interpositions  of  heaven  on  his  behalf, 
occurred  during  this  service.  While  the  division 
of  the  army  to  which  he  belonged  occupied  Fort 
Washington,  above  New  York,  he  was  compelled, 
by  sickness,  to  accept  a  short  furlough.  During 
his  absence,  the  fort  was  taken  hj  the  British,  and 
the  prisoners  were  removed  to  'New  York.  Some 
were  confined  in  the  building  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Sugar  House,  and  others  were  thrown  into 
prison  ships.  Close  confinement  and  a  fare  that 
was  next  to  starvation,  produced  a  mortality  so 
great,  that  only  four  persons  of  the  company  to 
which  Mr.  Osborn  belonged,  survived.  If  in  his 
then  enfeebled  health,  he  had  been  subjected  to 
those  exposures,  there  is  little  doubt  but  his  per- 
sonal history  would  from  that  time  have  belonged 
to  another  world.  But  there  remained  for  him  a 
more  distinguished  warfare  in  the  army  of  the  Cap- 


COLLEGE  COURSE  COMPLETED.  17 

tain  of  Salvation,  and  until  this  was  accomplished, 
Divine  providences  were  arranged  to  secure  him 
alike  from  the  arrow  by  day  and  the  pestilence  in 
darkness. 

Mr.  Osborn  had  become  a  member  of  Dartmouth 
College  previous  to  his  enlistment,  probably  when 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age ;  but  his  course  there 
was  interrupted  by  the  temporary  breaking  up  of 
the  College  in  consequence  of  an  invasion  from 
Canada.  This,  with  him,  must  have  produced  a 
delay  of  some  years  in  his  studies,  as  we  find  him  a 
graduate  of  the  class  of  1784. 

His  conversational  references  to  his  college  life, 
in  after  years,  contained  many  affectionate  allusions 
to  the  then  presiding  ofiicer.  Dr.  John  "Wheelock. 
For  him,  he  seems  to  have  cherished  a  peculiar 
attachment,  and  once  after  his  settlement  in  'New 
Jersey,  he  paid  him  a  visit  of  friendship  and  con- 
dolence under  the  trials  which  beclouded  his  declin- 
ing years. 

The  scant  outline  of  his  auto-biographical  ser- 
mons is  all  our  clue  to  his  spiritual  history,  from 
the  time  of  his  leaving  College  to  his  entrance  upon 
his  public  ministry.     He  says — 

"After  I  left  College,  I  was  disemployed-  for  about  three  years. 
Daring  that  time,  being  often  exposed  to  vain  company,  I  insen- 
sibly and  gracfually  became  too  much  conformed  to  the  spirit  and 

*  I  give  this  word  as  I  find  it,  presuming  he  does  not  mean  to  say 
that  his  time  was  not  employed  in  some  specific  pursuit.  It  is  cer- 
tain that  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  in  ]  786,  and  he  else- 
where says  that  he  received  his  licensure  after  he  had  studied  Divinity. 

9* 


18  LICENSED  TO   PREACH. 

fashion  of  the  world.  More  than  once  my  feet,  like  David's,  were 
almost  gone;  my  steps  had  well  nigh  slipped.  More  than  once  I 
was  almost  drawn  into  the  whirl  of  iniquity.  But  in  mercy  the 
Lord  sternly  rebuked  me,  stopped  me  in  my  presumptuous  course, 
and  once  more  turned  my  feet  unto  his  testimonies.  For  ever 
blessed  be  his  name !'' 

Mr.  Osborn  entered  the  ministry  before  the  exist- 
ence of  Theological  Seminaries  in  this  country.  He 
pursued  his  theological  course  of  study  in  part, 
under  the  tuition  of  Kev.  Andrew  Storrs,  of  Ply- 
mouth, Connecticut,  and  for  the  remainder,  with 
his  cousin.  Rev.  Joseph  Yaill,  of  Hadlyme,  in  the 
same  state. 

In  1786,  he  received  his  license  to  preach  as  a  pro- 
bationer for  the  holy  ministry,  and  without  any 
delay,  he  gave  himself  to  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen 
work.  A  few  weeks  afterward,  he  was  formally 
invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Spencertown,  IT.  Y.  He  declined  this 
call,  chiefly  because  he  wished  to  take  a  wider  ob- 
servation of  the  great  field  for  ministerial  labor, 
before  settling  himself  in  a  pastoral  charge.  With 
this  view  he  came  on  to  Philadelphia,  and  from 
thence,  under  the  advice  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat, 
made  an  excursion  to  the  lower  counties  of  New 
Jersey.  Those  who  are  accustomed  only  to  the  pre- 
sent rapid  and  easy  modes  of  journeying,  may  smile 
at  the  mention  of  this  tour  as  a  formidable  enter- 
prise. But  in  that  day,  over  the  country  as  it  then 
was,  a  journey  from   Connecticut  to  Lower  ISTew 


PASTOEAL  SETTLEMENT.  19 

Jersey,  was  an  event  in  the  history  of  a  man.     It 
was  performed  by  Mr.  Osborn  on  horseback. 

On  his  way  down,  he  preached  and  remained  a 
few  days  in  Pittsgrove,  Salem  county.  From  thence 
he  came  to  Deeriield,  where  he  spent  his  first  night 
in  Cumberland  county,  (the  night  of  the  thirtieth 
anniversary  of  his  birth,)  in  the  house  of  Ephraim 
Foster,  Esq.,  to  whose  family  he  allied  himself,  some 
thirty  years  afterwards,  by  marriage.  He  then  came 
on  to  Fairfield,  where,  after  laboring  with  accept- 
ance through  what  was  then  the  usual  time  of  trial, 
he  entered  upon  that  pastoral  settlement  which  was 
destined  to  be  so  enduring,  and  so  fruitful  of  blessed 
results.  On  the  3d  of  December,  1789,  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia  inducted  him  into  this  charge, 
under  the  ordination  formula  of  his  church.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  Kev.  George  Dufiield, 
D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Pine  Street  Church,  Philadel- 
phia, whose  descendant  of  the  third  generation  was 
Mr.  Osborn's  co-presbyter  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


f  *> 


PART    II. 

FROM  HIS  ORDINATION  TO  HIS  DISMISSION. 

We  liave  readied  tlie  point  where  the  ministerial 
life  of  Mr.  Osborn  becomes  so  interwoven  with  his 
church,  that  some  anterior  notice  of  the  last  becomes 
almost  an  essential  introduction  to  a  history  of  the 
pastorate  now  to  be  reviewed. 

When  in  1789  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Fair- 
field welcomed  its  young  Pastor,  it  was  already 
venerable  among  the  churches  of  this  country.  We 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining  its  exact  age.  Its 
records  previous  to  1759,  were  destroyed  in  a  fire 
which  consumed  the  house  of  one  of  its  pastors, 
and  there  is  neither  documentary  history,  nor  any 
preserved  tradition  of  the  date  of  its  organization. 
The  remotest  known  document  bearing  incidentally 
on  the  point,  is  a  provincial  law  of  1697,  which 
enacts  "that  the  tract  of  land  on  Cohansey,  pur- 
chased by  several  people  lately  inhabitants  from  Fair- 
field, in  'New  England,  from  and  after  the  date  here- 
of, be  erected  into  a  township,  and  be  called  Fair- 
field."* These  ''several  people"  were  a  colony  of 
Puritans,  whose  descendants  remain,  to  the  present 
day,  the  principal  occupants  of  the  township,  with 
little  intermixture  by  foreign  marriages,  a  still  less 

*  Contributed  by  Hon,  L.  Q.  0.  Elmer,  to  Dr.  Hodge's  Constitu- 
tional History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


ORiaiN  OF  FAIRFIELD  CHURCH.  21 

alloy  by  immigration.  It  would  be  difficult,  even 
in  New  England,  to  find  a  community  where  tlie 
truths,  order,  and  moralities  of  religion,  as  taught 
by  Brewster,  Hooker,  and  Davenport,  have  suffered 
less  corruption,  than  in  these  isolated  congrega- 
tions which  have  grown  out  of  the  former  parish 
of  Mr.  Osborn.  Doubtless  his  long  administration 
of  its  spiritual  affairs — being  himself  of  Puritan 
stock,  and  a  connecting  link  between  the  old  and 
new  times — contributed  not  a  little  to  this  result. 

The  custom  of  the  times  suggests  the  probability 
that  a  church  was  organized  in  the  colony  before  it 
entered  the  Delaware  Ba}^  At  least  it  would  vio- 
late all  our  notions  of  Puritanical  order,  to  supj)0se 
the  settlement  existed  any  length  of  time  without 
such  an  organization.  We  are,  therefore,  safe  in 
carrying  its  date  back  to  1697.  Probably  the  truth, 
if  it  could  be  known,  would  remove  it  a  little 
farther  into  the  past  distance,  as  the  colonists  may 
have  occupied  their  new  home  a  short  time  before 
obtaining  a  township  incorporation.  Doctor  Hodge, 
in  his  History,  makes  this  one  of  the  three  oldest 
Presbyterian  Churches  in  'New  Jersey,  without  de- 
termining to  which  of  the  three  seniority  belongs. 
The  others,  he  says,  are  Freehold,  instituted  in  1692, 
and  Woodbridge,  which  appears  on  the  Presbyterial 
records  in  1708.  The  first  mention  of  Fairfield  on 
the  same  records,  is  in  the  same  year.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  there  was  then  but  one  Presby- 
tery in  the  country — that  of  Philadelphia.  It  was 
not  organized  until  1705,  and  the  churches  then  in 


22  EARLY  NOTICES 

being,  did  not  all  drop  in  at  once,  so  tliat  nothing 
regarding  their  exact  age  can  be  settled  by  their 
first  mention  in  the  Presbyterial  minutes. 

Mr.  Osborn  preserved  a  few  traditionary  points  in 
the  early  history  of  the  church,  which  he  informed 
me  were  handed  down  to  him  by  Ephraim  Harris, 
Esq.,  a  member  of  the  session  at  the  time  of  his 
settlement.  These  were  written  out  by  him  in  1846, 
and  published  in  the  Christian  Observer,  Philadel- 
phia. But  all  which  relates  to  the  time  previous  to 
the  destruction  of  the  church  records,  is  comprised 
in  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  column.  I  find  that 
the  Presbyterial  records,  and  some  other  reliable 
authorities,  modify  this  tradition  in  a  few  particu- 
lars, and  where  I  depart  from  the  account  in  the 
Observer,  it  may  be  understood  that  I  do  it  in  obe- 
dience to  recorded  evidence. 

Mr.  Osborn  supposes,  with  much  probability,  that 
the  colony  brought  a  minister  with  them  from  E'ew 
England,  and  gives  the  name  of  Kev.  John  Bradnor 
as  the  first  settled  minister.  Some  doubt,  however, 
rests  upon  the  tradition  which  has  placed  this  name 
at  the  head  of  the  list  of  Fairfield  pastors.  A  man 
of  the  same  name,  said  in  the  record  to  be  from 
Scotland,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  in  1715, 
but  there  is  no  account  of  his  having  preached  in 
Eairfield;  neither  could  the  first  pastor  be  identified 
in  him,  without  an  anachronism. 

Coming  down  to  1702,  we  have  a  notice  of  Eev. 
Thomas  Bridge,  as  preaching  to  this  congregation 
in  that  and  the  following  year,  but  I  find  no  account 
of  his  installation. 


FROM  MR.  SMITH  TO  MR.  ELMER.  23 

The  first  known  settled  pastor  was  Eev.  Joseph 
Smith,  from  Connecticut.  He  came  as  a  licentiate, 
and  Avas  here  ordained  to  the  ministry  and  installed 
in  this  charge,  May  10,  1709.  His  pastorate  must 
have  heen  very  brief,  as  in  1711,  the  church  is  again 
found  vacant.  So  it  appears  to  have  remained  until 
October  15,  1714,  with  the  exception  of  the  inci- 
dental mention  of  the  name  of  a  Mr.  Exell,  as 
preaching  here  in  1711,  but  not  as  pastor. 

Under  date  of  1714,  we  have  the  record  of  the 
installation  of  Rev.  Howell  Powell  over  this  congre- 
gation. He  is  said  in  Mr.  Osborn's  account  to  have 
been  from  Wales — a  su^Dposition  which  is  corrobor- 
ated by  the  circumstance  that  his  name  was  some- 
times written  Howell  Ap  Powell.  His  work  was 
soon  done,  and  it  is  said,  Avell  done.  The  Synodi- 
cal  record  of  1717,  records  his  name  among  the 
deceased  brethren. 

In  1722,  Rev.  Henry  Hook,  from  Ireland,  is  found 
ministering  to  this  church,  but  without  any  pastoral 
connection  with  it.  His  name  soon  after  appears  as 
a  minister  in  the  State  of  Delaware.  * 

Following  this,  in  each  of  the  years  1724  and 
1726,  we  find  notices  of  Rev.  ^oyes  Paris  in  a  simi- 
lar relation,  and  then  we  are  brought  to  the  record 
of  a  more  memorable  installation. 

In  1727,  Rev.  Daniel  Elmer,  from  Connecticut, 
under  the  sanction  of  the  Presbytery,  took  his  posi- 
tion as  the  appointed  watchman  on  these  heights  of 
Zion.  His  connection  with  the  church  continued 
until  1755,  twenty-eight  years.     This  was  the  first 


24  THE  GREAT  REVIVAL. 

loDg  continued  pastorate  wliich  the  clinrcli,  now 
more  than  half  a  century  old,  had  enjoyed. 

Up  to  the  period  of  Mr.  Elmer's  settlement,  all 
history  of  its  spiritual  condition  is  lost.  "What  ef- 
fusions of  the  Spirit  of  converting  grace  were  en- 
joyed, how  its  members  walked  in  the  light  of 
the  Lord,  what  jealousy  was  exercised  over  the 
cardinal  truths  of  the  Christian  system,  how  minis- 
ters preached  and  people  prayed,  with  what  unction 
the  means  of  grace  were  sustained — all  these  things 
are  without  any  written  record,  and  beyond  the 
memory  of  men.  The  lips  from  which  we  might 
have  learned,  have  long  been  mute  in  death.  It  is, 
however,  a  very  suggestive  fact,  that  our  earliest 
reading  of  the  reliable  history  of  the  church,  brings 
us  into  the  presence  of  a  praying  people. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Elmer  was  cotemporaneous 
with  the  great  religious  revivals  in  connection  with 
the  preaching  of  Whitefield  and  the  Tennents,  and 
there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  the  tradition  preserved 
by  Mr.  Osborn,  that  this  place  shared  largely  in  the 
prevalent  influences.  In  1740,  Mr.  Whitefield  per- 
sonally aided  in  the  work  in  Greenwich,  on  the 
opposite  shore  of  the  Cohansey,  and  the  influence 
of  his  presence  there  could  hardly  fail  to  be  felt  in 
Fairfield.  Indeed,  it  is  not  an  improbable  supposi- 
tion that  his  own  labors  were  extended  across  the 
narrow  channel  which  divides  the  two  parishes.* 

*  I  find  in  the  American  Tract  Society's  edition  of  the  Life  of 
Whitefield,  an  account  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching  at  Cohansey. 
This  was  the  original  name  of  the  Fairfield  church,  on  the  book  of 


OLD  AND  NEW  LIGHTS.  25 

Throiigliout  tlie  country  these  seasons  of  refresliing 
were  seldom  free  from  some  real  or  supposed  inno- 
vations upon  Christian  order,  which  led  some  good 
men  to  withhold  their  sympathies  from  the  popular 
religious  movement,  and  in  not  a  few  instances,  to 
assume  the  attitude  of  bitter  hostility  toward  them. 
Serious  alienations  followed,  both  in  individual 
churches,  and  in  the  Synod,  which  then  embraced 
all  the  Presbyteries  Vvdiich  had  been  formed  in  this 
country.  The  rupture  of  the  Presbyterian  S^^nod, 
dividing  it  into  what  was  then  termed  the  Old  and 
Is'ew  Light  sides,  occurred  in  1741,  and  continued 
until  1758,  when  our  Zion  again  returned  to  the 
blessed  unitv  which  should  distiuo-uish  the  kins:- 
dom  of  Christ.  The  last  fourteen  years  of  Mr. 
Elmer's  pastorate  were  included  in  this  period,  and 
while  this  church  enjoyed  a  good  share  of  the  pre- 
valent gracious  effusion,  it  did  not  escape  the 
opposite  excitement  of  party  spirit.  It,  however, 
preserved   its   connection   with   the   Presbytery   of 


the  Presljytery,  but  at  this  time  it  was  applied  to  the  country  on  both 
sides  of  the  creek.  It  cannot,  as  used  in  Mr.  Whitefield's  journal, 
refer  to  Greenwich,  because  that  place  appears  under  its  own  name, 
a  few  lines  above.  It  is  claimed  for  a  locality  near  what  is  now 
Shepherd's  Mill,  on  the  same  side  of  the  creekj  once  the  site  of  a 
Baptist  church.  There  was  also,  at  that  time,  a  Baptist  church  in 
Cedarville,  on  the  Fairfield  side,  which  was  then  in  the  temporary 
possession  of  a  party  from  Mr.  Elmer's  church,  prominent  among 
whom — strange  to  say — was  Daniel  Elmer,  jr.,  a  son  of  the  pastor. 
Mrs.  Ruth  Davis,  now  a  lady  of  great  age,  and  very  reliable  memorj-, 
says  that  her  mother  spoke  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching  in  this  last 
church,  as  a  well  known  fact. 

3 


26  SETTLEMENT  OF  MR.  RAMSEY. 

Philadelphia,  which  remained  in  the  Old  Light 
Synod.  It  speaks  mueli  for  the  pastoral  qnaliiica- 
tions  of  Mr.  Elmer,  that  under  the  numerous  em- 
barrassments to  which  this  state  of  things  must  have 
subjected  him,  he  was  able  so  long  to  maintain  his 
.position. 

Mr.  Elmer's  mortal  remains  lie  among  those  of 
his  ilock,  in  an  ancient  burying-ground  on  the  bank 
of  the  Cohansey.  It  has  loiig  been  unused,  and  is 
now  grown  into  a  pleasant  forest.  A  little  human 
care,  added  to  its  present  rural  adornments,  would 
make  this  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sanctuaries  of 
the  dead  in  lower  isTew  Jersey.  The  descendants 
of  Mr.  Elmer  are  numerous  in  Cumberland  county, 
and  many  of  them  in  distinguished  positions,  and 
by  intellectual  and  moral  worth,  have  imparted  an 
abiding  fragrance  to  the  name  of  their  common 
parent. 

Kev.  William  Ramsey,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Elmer, 
was  ordained  as  pastor  in  1756.  His  ministry  ap- 
pears to  have  been  one  of  signal  prosperity  and  use- 
fulness. Harmony  was  restored  to  the  church,  and 
the  new  era  of  revivals  which  opened  during  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Elmer,  came  out  from  the 
clouds  of  discord  and  appeared  as  the  shining  day. 
In  relation  to  the  most  interesting  period  of  this 
pastorate,  Mr.  Osborn  has  left  the  following  minute  : 
"  In  1765,  there  was  a  remarkable  awakening  and 
revival  of  religion.  In  almost  every  house,  one  or 
more  were  subjects  of  the  gracious  work.  The 
whole  number  added  to  the  church  in  1765-6,  was 


THE  OLD  STONE  CHURCH.  27 

eighty-nine.  It  has  l)een  observed,  that  the  revival 
was  still  and  orderly,  though  powerful." 

After  a  ministry  of  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Ramsey,  at 
the  comparatively  early  age  of  thirty-nine  years,  was 
removed  by  death. 

In  1773,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Hol- 
lingshead,  who  presided  over  the  church  ten  years, 
and  was  then  transferred  to  a  pastoral  charge  in 
Charleston,  S.  C.  Of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Osborn  says, 
— "E'othing  uncommon  occurred  until  the  winter 
of  1780-81,  when  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  visit  his 
people  with  another  shower  of  Divine  grace.  In 
May,  1781,  there  were  forty-eight  admitted  to  full 
communion.  In  December  following,  forty-six  more 
were  added  to  the  church,  and  several  afterward, 
so  that  the  whole  number  added  to  the  church  in 
1781  and  1782,  was  one  hundred  and  fifteen.  Well 
may  the  people  of  Fairfield  say — Hitherto  hath  the 
Lord  helped  us,  and  blessed  be  his  name!"  In  one 
of  his  manuscript  sermons,  I  find  this  additional 
remark  respecting  that  season  of  special  interest — 
"It  has  been  said  that  this  revival  was  attended 
with  more  commotion  and  crying  out  than  the  pre- 
ceding one.  '  There  are  diversities  of  operations, 
but  it  is  the  same  God  which  worketh  all  in  all.'  " 

The  time  honored  edifice,  now  so  extensively 
known  as  the  Old  Stone  Church,  was  built  during 
the  pastoral  administration  of  Mr.  Hollingshead, 
and  used  by  him  during  the  last  two  years  of  his 
continuance  here.  In  our  remotest  knowledge  of 
the  congregation,  we  find  them  worshipping  in  a 


28  OLD  STONE  CllUliClI  AND  ITS  PllEDECESSOKS. 

log  meeting-house,  called  the  Cohansey  Church, 
situated  in  the  entrance  corner  of  the  old  grave- 
yard referred  to  in  the  notice  of  Mr.  Elmer,  and 
about  a  mile  from  where  the  present  Old  Stone 
Church  stands.  The  log  house  was  supplanted  hy 
a  wooden  structure,  on  or  near  the  same  site.  This, 
in  ^Ir.  Hollingshead's  time,  became  so  decayed  as 
to  be  unsafe  for  use,  and  the  pulpit  was  removed 
to  the  open  air,  under  the  shadow  of  a  large  tree. 
There  he  continued  to  address  the  congregation 
until  they  entered  their  new  sanctuary,  September 
7,  1780.*  The  graves  of  Mr.  Elmer  and  Mr.  Eam- 
sey  are  where  the  shadow  of  the  Avooden  church  fell 
upon  them.  Mr.  Powell  was  doubtless  buried  in 
the  same  cemeter}^,  but  no  trace  of  the  place  of  his 
interment  remains. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hollingshead,  in  1783, 
the  congregation  appears  to  have  lived  under  the 
precarious  and  comparatively  thriftless  ministry  of 
occasional  sup^Dlies,  until  in  the  winter  of  1788-9, 
when  in  the  manner  already  described,  the  provi- 
dence of  their  covenant  God  guided  hither  the 
youthful  minister  whose  long  walk  and  labors 
among  them  now  come  up  for  notice. 


Much  of  Mr.  Osborn's  pastorate  was  like  his 
general  life,  tranquil  and  not  abounding  in  histori- 
cal points.     The  quiet  every-day  labors  of  a  faithful 

*  For  this  date  I  am  indebted  to  the  researches  of  Judge  Elmer. 


NO  REVIVAL  FOR  TWENTY  YEARS.  29 

minister  of  God,  will  fill  a  large  space  in  the  reve- 
lations of  eternity,  but  they  present  few  biographical 
incidents.  The  leading  events  of  his  ministry  are 
the  special  effusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which,  from 
time  to  time,  swelled  up  the  numbers  of  the  church, 
and  preserved  the  wholesome  tone  for  which  it  was 
distinguished  in  the  times  now  under  review.  In 
his  own  account  of  his  pastoral  administration, 
revivals  were  his  historical  eras — the  landmarks  by 
which  he  kept  himself  historically  accurate.  Still 
the  first  twenty  years  of  his  ministry  appear  to  have 
passed  with  only  the  ordinary  amount  of  spiritual 
prosperity.  "Writing  to  the  Christian  Observer,  he 
says  that  in  1790,  (immediately  following  his  settle- 
ment,) the  number  of  church  members  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  In  his  historical  sermon, 
he  informs  us  that  in  April,  1809,  there  were  one 
hundred  and  twenty-four,  thus  barely  keeping  up 
with  the  current  losses.  Of  the  state  of  things  dur- 
ing this  time,  he  says — 

"Regular  discipline  in  the  church  was  kept  up,  and  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered.  Members  of  the 
church  very  generally  walked  in  the  commandments  and  ordi- 
nances of  the  Lord,  blameless.  Small  additions  were  made  to 
the  church  from  time  to  time,  so  that  the  number  remained 
nearly  the  same/' 

This  ''regular  discipline,"  in  those  days,  took  a 
high  rank  among  the  means  of  spiritual  edification. 
In  the  Fairfield  church,  the  administration  of  it  was 
sometimes  rather  unique,  but  it  was  applied  in  a 
gracious  mood,  and  generally  to  the  purpose.     Let 


30  DISCIPLINE  IN  THOSE  DAYS. 

US  take  an  example  from  the  records  of  the  Session, 
under  date  of  August  25,  1792  : 

"Mr.  John  Ogden  having  brought  a  complaint  against  Mrs. 
-,  they  both  appeared  and  produced  their  evidences  before 


the  Session,  which  being  heard,  it  was  judged  that  Mrs. 
deserved  a  severe  censure  for  accusing  Mr.  Ogden  of  stealing  her 
corn,  and  that  both  of  them  should  he  cautioned  concerning  several 
things. 

"Mr.  Zeb  Woodruif  also  brought  a  complaint  against  Mrs. 

,  [same  defendant  again.]     The  evidence  being  given  in, 

the  Session  judge  that  both  of  them  should  be  admonished  to  lay 
aside  ill-grounded  suspicion  and  all  contentions,  and  live  as  be- 
cometh  the  Christian  religion." 

This  defendant's  tongue  appears  in  the  end  to 
have  been  an  overmatch  for  the  diligence  of  the 
Session,  for  we  find  eight  months  afterward,  a 
record  of  her  "exclusion"  for  falsehood. 

Another  example : — 

"1st  May,  1797.  The  Session  met,  and  was  constituted  with 
prayer.  Present — Ethan  Osborn,  Amos  Westcott,  Jeremiah  Har- 
ris, Jedediah  Ogden,  William  Bateman,  and  Thomas  Burch. 
Several  members  of  the  church  were  mentioned  as  persons  faulty, 
either  in  commission  of  offences  or  omission  of  duty.  After  due 
consideration  of  their  particular  cases,  it  was  agreed  that  Mr. 
William  Bateman  make  inquiry  of concerning  a  com- 
plaint made  against  her  for  breach  of  the  Sabbath ;  that  Amos 
Westcott,  Esq.,  inquire  of ,  his  reason  for  absenting  him- 
self from  the  Lord's  Supper ;  that  Mr.  Thomas  Burch  inquire  of 

his  reason  for  not  having  his  children  baptized ;  and  that 

Mr.  Jer.  Harris  inform ,  that  it  is  the  desire  of  this  Session 

that  he  refrain  from  the  sacraments  till  a  certain  criminal  alle- 
gation, now  depending  in  law,  is  cleared  up.  The  reports  of  these 
several  cases  to  be  made  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Session. 
Concluded  with  prayer." 


CO-OPERATIVE  EFFORT. 


"^1 


Kear  tlie  close  of  1805,  Mr.  Osborn,  in  connec- 
tion witli  some  neigliboring  pastors,  entered  upon  a 
course  of  co-operative  effort  for  tlie  advancement  of 
religion  in  tlie  region  around  tliem.  An  extract 
from  a  letter  to  liis  familiar  and  mucli  beloved 
friend,  Gen.  Ebenezer  Elmer,  of  Bridgeton,  then  in 
Congress  in  Washington,  will  exhibit  the  character 
of  this  effort.     It  is  dated  January  11, 1806. 

"We  had  a  monthly  meeting  at  Bridgeton.  We  began  them 
at  Fairfield  the  first  Tuesday  in  last  month.  The  next  is  to  be 
at  Decrfield,  the  first  Tuesday  in  February.  These  meetings, 
agreed  upon  by  the  neighboring  ministers,  are  to  be  by  rotation 
from  one  congregation  to  another,  where  ministers  reside,  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  every  month. 

"A  little  past  the  middle  of  last  month,  Mr.  Freeman  and  my- 
self took  a  preaching  tour  three  days  successively,  at  Alloway's 
Creek,  Pittsgrove,  and  Deerfield,  and  talk  of  taking  another  after 
awhile.  Last  Tuesday  evening,  we  four^"  agreed  to  preach  at 
seven  places,  mostly  in  the  outposts  of  our  congregations,  on  the 
same  day  and  hour  at  four  of  the  places,  and  about  once  a  fort- 
night by  rotation.  The  general  object  of  all  these  meetings  is 
the  promotion  of  religion.'' 

This  movement  on  the  hearts  of  these  pastors 
may  have  been  the  dawning  of  a  special  operation 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  in  Fairfield,  three  years 
afterward,  culminated  in  the  first  great  revival 
under  Mr.  Osborn's  ministry.  We  will  take  our 
account  of  this  work  of  grace  from  his  own  pen. 

"  The  Lord  once  more  appeared  for  his  favored  church  in  Fair- 
field.    Through  the  summer  and  fall  of  1809,  a  general  awaken- 

*  The  four  present  at  the  monthly  meeting  in  Bridgeton,  Mr.  Osborn, 
Mr.  Freeman,  Pastor  in  Bridgeton  and  Greenwich,  Mr.  Davis,  Pastor 
in  Millville,  and  a  fourth  now  unknown. 


32  MR.  osborn's  first  revival. 

ing  to  the  concerns  of  the  eternal  world  prevailed  among  the 
people.  Conference,  or  prayer-meetings,  were  held  in  dlifercnt 
parts  of  the  congregation,  not  less  than  six  or  seven  evenings  in 
the  week.  It  was  truly  a  revival  time,  both  to  saints  and  sinners; 
the  Spirit  of  grace  was  poured  upon  each.  Some  were  severely 
experienced  and  brought  into  deep  distress ;  others  were  exer- 
cised in  a  mild  manner.  Though  there  were  divers  operations, 
yet  the  same  God  wrought  in  all.  In  a  few  months,  a  consider- 
able number  entertained  a  hope,  and  thanks  to  God  !  he  continued 
his  gracious  work  for  many  months.  On  December  3,  1809,  just 
twenty  years  from  my  ordination,  twenty-four  were  admitted  to 
the  church.  In  April,  1810,  thirty  were  admitted  to  full  com- 
munion; in  August  following,  twenty-seven  more,  and  small 
numbers  at  the  two  communions  following,  so  that  in  the  space 
of  two  years,  there  were  added  to  this  church  one  hundred  and 
twelve.  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  and  blessed  be 
his  name ! 

"  Though  various  means  were  used,  yet  it  was  evident  that  the 
excellency  of  the  power  was  of  God,  and  not  of  men.  This  appears 
from  the  great  change  wrought,  and  the  good  fruit  following. 
Though  I  was  not  idle  during  the  revival,  yet  it  seemed  as  if  I 
was  a  spectator  beholding  the  wonderful  operation  of  Divine 
grace  convincing  and  converting  sinners.  My  brethren  of  the 
Session  were  alive  and  diligent  in  prayer  and  religious  conver- 
sation, and  perhaps  I  may  have  aided,  in  some  measure,  the  good 
work  of  the  Lord.  But  I  was  only  one  among  a  multitude  of 
agents  who  were  active  in  the  same  employ.  Truly  my  soul 
rejoiced  to  see  many  return  unto  the  Lord  and  enlist  under  the 
banner  of  King  Jesus." 

This  revival,  Mr.  Osborn  informs  us,  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  maiutenance  of  prayer-meetings,  and 
an  orderly  walk  in  tlie  cliurcli  generally,  "keeping 
the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,"  but 
"no  remarkable  occurrence  in  the  state  of  religion," 
until  the  year  1819.  Then  the  soul  of  the  Fairfield 
pastor  was  again  enlarged  in  a  year  of  the  right 


GRATEFUL  NOTICE  OF  LAY  AGENCY.        33 

hand  of  God.  The  revival  of  that  year  was  first 
manifest  in  prayer-meetings,  commenced  in  the 
part  of  the  township  known  as  Sayre's  l^eck,  hnt 
its  influences  were  felt  in  other  parts  of  the  congre- 
gation. As  the  result  of  it,  fifty-six  were  added  to 
the  church. 

In  the  sermon  which  contains  the  account  of  this 
revival,  Mr.  Osborn  again  speaks  of  his  own  agency 
in  a  tone  of  humility,  which  his  friends  will  not  fail 
to  recognize  as  in  keeping  with  his  uniform  spiritual 
temper.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  this  temper, 
will  have  no  doubt  that  he  felt  as  he  spoke  when  he 
said — 

"  Though  I  promptly  seconded  the  proposal,  yet  a  Christian 
brother  whom  I  shall  forever  esteem  and  love,  first  proposed  the 
prayer-meeting,  which  was  so  signally  blessed  for  the  spiritual 
good  of  the  congregation.  I  think  that  brother,  as  an  active 
instrumental  agent,  has  done  much  more  in  promoting  the  good 
work  than  I  have." 

He  then  adds  some  reflections  on  the  power  of 
lay  agency  in  promoting  revivals,  which  come  with 
a  double  interest  to  us  in  this  year  of  our  Lord, 
1858— a  year  in  which  the  use  of  this  agency  forms 
so  prominent  a  feature  of  the  stupendous  work  of 
grace  now  in  progress  over  our  whole  country. 
He  says — 

"  I  now  speak  it  as  my  candid  opinion,  that  in  any  revival  of 
religion,  the  ministry  is  only  one  among  many  agencies  which 
co-equally  operate  in  promoting  the  blessed  work  of  God.  If  a 
lay  brother  is  active  in  prayer  and  exhortation,  the  people  are 
more  impressed  with  his  sincerity,  so  that  what  he  says  and  does 


34  FIRESIDE  PREACHING 

may  have  more  influence  on  their  minds.  And  not  a  little  have 
my  Christian  brethren  and  sisters,  as  agents  under  God,  con- 
tributed to  maintain  and  promote  the  blessed  religion  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  thank  them  for  their  labors  of  love,  and  I 
thank  my  God  for  moving  them  to  labor.  Mine  exhortation  to 
them  is,  not  to  be  weary  in  well-doing,  for  in  due  season  they 
shall  reap  a  glorious  harvest.^' 

During  tlie  next  few  years,  there  was  only  the 
ordinary  amount  of  spiritual  movement  in  the 
church.  The  pastor  labored  as  usual,  faithful  and 
affectionate,  in  public  and  private,  and  some  Divine 
influences  distilled  as  the  gentle  dews.  About  this 
time,  Mr.  Osborn  preached  to  his  people  a  sermon 
descriptive  of  his  pastoral  visits  to  fiimilies — a  mode 
of  effort  which  he  had  reduced  to  a  system.  I  have 
the  manuscript  of  this  sermon  before  me.  An  ex- 
tract from  it  will  afford  a  fine  specimen  of  the  man 
in  the  character  of  a  Christian  shepherd. 

"  In  the  first  place,  I  aimed  to  represent  religion  as  the  most 
important  of  all  things  with  which  we  have  any  concern,  and 
that  it  ought  to  be  the  chief  object  of  our  desire  and  pursuit.  I 
aimed  to  show  that  our  neglect  of  religion  must  lead  to  everlast- 
ing ruin.  I  also  represented  religion  as  good  and  amiable  in 
itself,  as  it  assimilated  us  to  the  blessed  God,  and  generally  said 
some  things  concerning  the  nature  of  religion,  as  it  consisted  in 
a  heart  and  life  conformed  to  God.  xind  as  we  are  fallen, 
depraved  creatures,  I  urged  the  necessity  of  a  change,  by  the 
renewing  and  sanctifying  influences  of  God\s  Spirit.  As  such  a 
change  is  all-important  to  us,  I  urged  it  home  to  the  conscience 
by  this  serious  question — 'Do  you  really  think  you  have  experi- 
enced such  a  change,  or ptossess  true  gospel  religion?^  I  generally 
observed,  that  though  we  may  not  know  as  certainly  as  God 
knows,  yet  we  ought  to  make  it  a  frequent  serious  question  to 


^  TO  HEADS  OF  FAMILIES.  35 

ourselves,  in  order  to  form  a  right  judgment  of  our  religious 
character  and  present  preparation  for  eternity,  whether  if  we 
should  now  die,  our  eternity  would  be  happy  or  miserable.  I 
put  this  or  a  like  question  to  heads  of  families;  indeed,  it  ought 
to  be  the  great  question  with  all,  both  old  and  young. 

"When  the  answer  was  in  the  affirmative — that  they  enter- 
tained a  prevailing  hope  of  being  in  a  gracious  state,  I  reminded 
them  of  their  constant  need  of  the  grace  of  Christ  to  keep  them 
in  such  a  state,  and  their  obligation  to  live  near  to  God,  by  walk- 
ing as  Christ  walked.  I  observed,  that  to  live  thus  would  con- 
duce to  their  own  peace  and  comfort,  as  well  as  to  the  glory  of 
God.  I  also  cautioned  them  against  the  deception  of  a  false  hope, 
and  exhorted  them  to  be  always  willing  to  examine  themselves 
by  whatever  might  serve  as  a  test  of  their  sincerity.  So  doing, 
they  might  be  either  undeceived,  or  find  their  piety  and  faith 
made  more  evident. 

"When  the  answer  was  in  the  negative — that  they  did  not 
consider  themselves  in  a  gracious  state,  I  reminded  them  of  the 
lamentable  character  of  such  a  conclusion,  and  their  gloomy 
prospect  beyond  the  grave.  I  solemnly  warned  them  of  the 
danger  of  resting  there,  and  exhorted  them  immediately  to  seek 
for  mercy  by  imploring  God  to  bring  them  out  of  a  state  of  con- 
demnation, and  to  pardon  and  save  them  through  the  redemption 
by  Jesus  Christ.  Here  I  frequently  enlarged,  by  putting  them 
in  mind  of  life's  uncertainty,  of  the  folly  of  risking  their  salva- 
tion on  their  possible  repentance  at  some  future  day,  and  how 
dreadful  their  eternal  state  must  be,  should  they  die  impenitent 
and  unpardoned. 

"  After  mentioning  some  essential  duties,  such  as  repentance, 
faith,  love,  and  obedience,  I  spoke  of  the  relative  duties  of  parents 
and  children,  and  urged  on  parents  and  guardians  the  important 
duty  of  bringing  up  their  children  in  the  fear  of  God.  I  observed 
that  they  should  discourage  in  them  what  is  evil,  and  endeavor 
to  restrain  them  from  it,  and  encourage  them  in  what  is  com- 
mendable and  right.  At  the  same  time,  they  must  pray  God  to 
prosper  their  endeavors  for  the  good  of  their  children. 

"After  this,  I  led  on  the  conversation  to  the  duty  of  family 


36  FIRESIDE  PREACHING. 

prayer,  and  inc[ulred  ■whether  it  was  performed  in  tlie  family. 
AVhen  the  answer  was  in  the  affirmative,  I  observed  that  we 
sh(juld  pray  to  God  with  reverence,  in  sincerity  and  faith.  I 
mentioned  some  good  effects  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  it 
tends  to  produce  in  the  minds  of  both  parents  and  children. 
When  the  answer  was,  that  family  prayer  was  not  attended,  I 
then  observed  that  the  neglect  of  it  must  certainly  imply  a  fiiult 
in  them;  that  they  either  had  no  grace,  or  neglected  the  proper 
exercise  of  it.  I  told  them  they  ought  to  pray,  and  do  it  right, 
and  I  exhorted  them  seriously  to  consider  it,  and  to  pray  for  a 
spirit  of  prayer. 

"After  this  I  turned  my  conversation  to  the  children  and  others 
present.  Here  I  urged  the  importance  of  obtaining  religion  in 
early  life,  as  youth  is  the  most  favorable  time  for  it.  I  repre- 
sented religion  as  conducive  to  their  own  peace  and  welfare,  the 
welfare  of  others,  and  the  glory  of  their  Heavenly  Father.  I 
recommended  it  as  Divinely  excellent,  and  of  absolute  necessity, 
for  without  it,  we  must  be  miserable,  but  in  the  spirit  and  prac- 
tice of  it,  we  shall  be  like  angels,  and  qualified  for  the  joys 
of  heaven.  Sometimes  I  asked  them  questions,  and  counseled 
them  to  learn,  and  advance  in  goodness  as  well  as  knowledge.  I 
reminded  them  of  their  duty  to  their  parents,  and  solemnly 
charged  them  not  to  neglect  that  or  any  other  known  duty,  but 
to  be  dutiful  and  pious  children.  And  in  order  to  move  them  to 
it,  I  led  on  their  thoughts  to  the  solemn  day  of  judgment,  the 
joys  of  heaven  and  the  sorrows  of  hell.  After  speaking  of  our 
present  state  of  probation  and  the  all-important  consequences 
which  must  follow,  I  concluded  with  prayer. 

"  Such,  my  brethren,  was  the  general  line  of  conversation 
which  I  pursued  in  those  religious  visits,  aiming  to  bring  into 
view  things  of  universal  concern,  our  duty  and  happiness  in  time 
and  throughout  eternity." 


It  is  a  suggestive,  as  well  as  interesting  fact,  that 
a  round  of  pastoral  labor,  similar  to  wliat  is  here 
described,  preceded  the  last  general  eftnsion  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  noticed  above. 


CATECHETICAL  INSTRUCTION.  37 

In  this  connection,  we  ought  not  to  pass  over 
another  form  of  pastoral  hibor  which  Mr.  Osborn 
performed  with  strict  punctuality,  until  the  grow- 
ing np  of  denominational  jealousies  in  after  years, 
forced  him  to  abandon  it.  Once  in  three  months, 
he  visited  all  the  schools  in  the  parish,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  hearing  from  the  scholars  recitations  of  the 
Westminster  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism,  and 
affording  such  exxDlanations  of  its  doctrines  as  he 
"thought  adapted  to  their  age  and  condition.  It 
must  be  remembered,  that  during  the  early  part 
of  his  ministry,  his  church  stood  alone  in  the 
township.  The  Baptist  Church  in  Cedarville,  (since 
resucitated.)  was  scattered  and  dead,  and  the  Meth- 
odists had  not  come  in.  The  custom  of  teaching  the 
Shorter  Catechism  in  the  public  schools,  brought 
from  New  England,  was  agreeable  to  the  antece- 
dents of  the  people,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  it 
contributed  largely  to  that  clear,  discriminating 
appreciation  of  preaching  which  prevailed  among 
hearers  thus  trained.  It  would  not  be  an  unprofit- 
able meditation,  to  reflect  here  upon  the  contrast 
between  that  practice,  together  with  the  general 
Scriptural  knowledge  of  the  people  under  it,  and 
the  times  when  prejudice  has  expelled  the  primary 
catechism  of  our  church,  even  from  many  of  our 
own  parish  Sabbath-schools. 

One  of  the  three  remarkable  preservations  from 
death,  in  moments  of  imminent  peril,  which  were 
registered  in  the  memory  of  Mr.  Osborn,  occurred 
4 


38  A  DAY  OF  DELIVERANCES. 

during  one  of  tliese  catechetical  instructions.*  It 
was  some  forty  or  fifty  3^ears  ago,  in  a  scliool-liouse 
which  stood  near  the  present  residence  of  Ephraim 
H.  Whiticar,  Esq.  While  he  was  standing  with  the 
children  around  him,  the  house  was  struck  hy  light- 
ning, and  the  fluid,  apparently  following  the  course 
of  a  row  of  nails  in  the  floor,  entirely  tore  away  a 
toe  from  one  of  his  feet,  without  inflicting  upon  him 
any  other  injury  beyond  the  temporary  shock  of  his 
system. 

The  disasters  of  the  day  were  not,  however,  ended. 
In  the  evening,  the  house  was  accidentally  set  on 
fire  by  a  light  carried  by  one  of  the  family  into  the 
attic,  while  searching  for  a  bandage  for  his  foot.  It 
was  first  discovered  by  some  person  in  the  road,  and 
for  the  second  time  in  the  history  of  this  parish,  the 
wild  cry  of  fire!  rung  fearfully  out  from  the  pastor's 
house. f  Help  was  gathered  in  sufiicient  time  to 
save  the  building,  but  not  without  injury  extending 
to  the  destruction  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
roof. 

It  was  on  the  whole,  a  gloomy  night  for  the 
family,  but  doubtless  a  good  one  for  the  man  who 
was  armed  with  the  life-long  habit  of  faith,  and  to 


*  One  of  these  providential  deliverances  was  experienced  during 
his  boyhood,  in  connection  with  the  upsetting  of  a  loaded  wood-sled. 
The  second  has  been  recorded  as  following  the  capture  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington.    The  third  is  now  related. 

■j-  The  house  of  Mr.  Elmer  was  consumed  by  fire,  in,  or  a  little  pre- 
vious to  A.  D.  1759,  involving  the  loss  of  the  records  of  the  church, 
already  noticed. 


A  HOUSE  THAT  COULDN'T  BURN.  39 

whom  tlie  trial  of  tins  grace  was  more  precious  than 
gold.  The  Lord  ivill  i^rovide.  The  earnest  of  it  was 
not  long  in  coming.  The  next  morning,  almost 
before  the  family  had  time  to  deliberate  upon 
measures  of  relief,  parishioners  were  seen  coming  np 
with  boards,  rafters,  shingles,  nails,  saws,  hammers, 
and  whatever  else  the  occasion  demanded,  and  be- 
fore night,  the  household  were  snug  and  dry  under 
a  sound  roof,  and  went  quietly  to  their  rest,  after 
blessed  thanksgivings,  mingled  with  many  prayers 
for  that  ''kind  people"  who  were  so  often  on  Mr. 
Osborn's  lips  and  in  his  heart.* 

Eeturning  to  the  spiritual  history  of  Mr.  Osborn's 
pastorate,  we  find  no  strongly  marked  events  until 
the  year  1826.  That  year  closed  amidst  another 
extensive  work  of  grace  in  the  congregation.  The 
most  full  account  which  I  have  obtained  respecting 
it,  is  in  a  letter  to  his  brother,  Capt.  Eliada  Osborn, 
of  Litchfield,  May  19,  1827. 

^  In  relation  to  the  peril  of  this  house,  one  might  almost  say,  as  a 
Fairfield  gentleman  once  said  to  the  writer,  at  another  strife  with  the 
consuming  element.  In  the  spring  of  1848,  I  believe,  while  a  town- 
ship election  was  going  on  within  it,  the  Old  Stone  Church  was  fired, 
through  a  defect  in  the  stove-pipe,  between  the  ceiling  and  roof. 
Men  were  plenty,  but  it  was  not  so  with  ladders,  buckets,  and  the  all- 
important  article  of  water.  For  some  minutes,  the  salvation  of  the 
building  was  regarded  as  an  impossibility.  The  gentleman  referred 
to,  (not  a  professor  of  religion,)  was  standing  near  me.  I  said  de- 
spairingly—" The  church  must  go.''  "Not  a  bit  of  it,"  was  the  reply, 
"it  canH  burn  down."  "Why  not?"  I  inquired.  ^^ Because,''  said  he, 
"  the  good  man  above  won't  let  that  building  be  burned;  7ni?id  I  fell  you." 
I  may  add,  the  fire  was  subdued,  with  only  some  inconsiderable 
damage  to  the  roof. 


40  GREAT  RELIGIOUS  INTEREST. 

"The  Lord,  ttg  believe,  has  been  carrying  on  a  wonderful 
gracious  work  among  us  since  last  November.  There  seemed  to 
be  some  unusual  seriousness  among  the  people  through  the  fall, 
and  nine  were  added  to  the  church  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  De- 
cember. From  that  time,  a  general  awakening  seemed  to  prevail, 
and  a  wonderful  spirit  of  prayer  was  poured  out  on  old  and  young. 
Prayer-meetings  were  multiplied,  and  that  cold  weather  in  Janu- 
ary could  not  stop  the  people  from  going  to  them.  They  were 
often  crowded. 

"  Such  a  degree  of  general  earnestness  and  anxiety  in  religion, 
I  never  before  witnessed,  either  here,  or  in  any  other  place. 
Many  were  seriously  inquiring  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved; 
and  there  were  several  instances  of  alarming  conviction  and  dis- 
tressing fears,  sinking  almost  in  despair.  One  young  man,  after 
conversing  with  another  in  the  evening,  on  the  interesting  sub- 
ject of  religion,  while  returning  home,  felt  such  a  burden  of  guilt 
that  he  could  hardly  move  along.  He  said  it  seemed  every 
moment  as  if  the  lightning  would  strike  him.  After  going  along 
awhile,  he  kneeled  down  by  the  fence  and  prayed ;  he  went 
further  and  prayed  again,  and  again  after  he  returned  home.  The 
heavy  rain  of  that  evening  had  thoroughly  soaked  his  clothes,  but 
he  scarcely  thought  of  that,  so  intensely  was  his  mind  occupied 
with  the  concerns  of  religion  and  eternity. 

"A  meeting  for  prayer  and  conversation  with  the  anxious,  was 
established,  and  afterwards  another,  but  so  many  crowded  in,  that 
in  a  few  weeks  they  became  common  prayer-meetings.  The  boys, 
of  their  own  accord,  began  a  prayer-meeting,  and  afterwards 
another,  both  of  which  are  yet  continued.  You  will  understand 
that  all  these  prayer-meetings  are  weekly,  on  fixed  evenings. 
But  besides  these,  there  were  in  the  winter,  frequent  extra  meet- 
ings collected  in  the  two  villages,*  on  two  or  three  hours'  notice. 
One  week  our  people  counted  nineteen  meetings,  fixed  and  extra. 

"  Previous  to  the  sacrament,  the  Session  appointed  two  days  to 
converse  with  those  who  should  come  forward.     The  total  num- 

■^  Fairton  and  Cedarville,  four  miles  apart,  with  the  Old  Stone 
Church  nearly  midway  between  them. 


A  SON  BROUGHT  IN.  41 

ber  propounded  and  admitted  to  full  communion  with  the  church 
was  fifty-one.  This  we  believe  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  while  it 
is  marvellous  in  our  eyes,  we  would  rejoice  and  give  thanks. 
Among  the  aforesaid  number  were  five  men  with  their  wives.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  new  members  are  young  people,  and  two 
of  the  age  of  thirteen,  one  of  whom — thanks  to  God !  is  our  dear 
son,  Robert.*  The  gracious  work  seems  to  be  still  in  a  measure 
progressing." 

In  Mr.  Osborn's  notice  of  the  clinrch,  published 
in  the  Christian  Observer,  he  says,  without  adding 
any  particulars  —  "In  1831,  we  were  blessed  with 
another  revival,  during  which  about  eighty  were 
added  to  the  church."  But  in  this  account,  his 
mind  evidently  embraced  the  work  of  1827,  which 
is  not  otherwise  noticed  in  that  article.  The  jcsly 
1831  was  certainly  a  season  of  peculiar  religious 
interest.  On  March  30th  of  that  year,  he  writes  to 
Litchfield — 

"  The  state  of  religion  is  more  encouraging.  Four  or  five  were 
added  to  the  church  last  December;  nine  are  coming  forward  next 
Sabbath.  We  are  to  have  a  three  days'  meeting,  beginning  on 
Friday  and  continuing  on  Saturday  and  Sabbath.  Four  or  five 
neighboring  ministers  attend  and  preach,  and  one  of  them  stays 
with  us  over  the  Sabbath.'' 

In  the  following  August  and  December  of  that 
year,  there  were  twenty-seven  received  on  profes- 
sion into  the  church,  so  that  regarding  the  move- 
ments of  this  time  as  a  continuation  of  the  interest 
of  1827,  we  have  the  ''about  eighty"  much  more 
than  made  good. 

*  Now  Rev.  Robert  Osborn,  of  Point  Pleasant,  Western  Virginia. 

4* 


42  SETTLEMENT  OF  A  COLLEAGUE. 

At  this  time,  witli  but  little  numerical  increase  of 
tlie  population  of  the  township,  the  number  of  com- 
municants in  the  church  had  increased  from  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Os- 
born's  settlement,  to  three  hundred  and  thirty-six. 
The  Old  Stone  Church  had  become  so  filled  that 
not  a  pew,  and  scarcely  a  sitting,  either  on  the  floor 
or  in  the  spacious  galleries,  remained  without  rent. 

In  1836,  (Mr.  Osborn  then  being  in  his  78th  year,) 
Kev.  David  McKee,  from  Kentuck}^,  was  installed  as 
co-pastor,  to  take  part  in  the  labors  of  this  large 
parish.  During  this  year,  the  Spirit  was  once  more 
poured  from  on  high,  in  a  work  of  grace  which  the 
aged  pastor  characterized  as  the  most  powerful 
which  had  occurred  during  his  ministry,  with  the 
single  but  lamentable  exception  of  its  short  continu- 
ance. In  August  of  that  year,  sixty-one  united  with 
the  church,  the  largest  number  received  at  any  one 
communion  during  his  pastorate. 

As  this  closes  the  history  of  ingatherings  under 
his  pastoral  administrations,  it  may  here  be  said  the 
number  received  on  profession  under  his  ministry,  is 
a  fraction  over  six  hundred.  And  it  is  recorded 
with  peculiar  satisfaction,  that  notwithstanding  his 
was  so  eminently  an  administration  of  revivals,  still 
the  aggregate  number  which  we  have  counted  up  as 
the  fruit  of  those  revivals,  makes  but  little  more 
than  one  half  of  the  total  accessions  just  named. 
Almost  one  half  were  the  occasional  dropping  in  of 
new  members  as  the  fruit  of  the  every  day  faithful- 
ness and  faith  of  the  pastor  and  people,  in  the  regu- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  TllOUBLES.  43 

lar  moans  of  grace.  It  is  a  notable  evidence  that 
the  absence  of  great  outward  religious  demonstra- 
tions, is  no  evidence  that  Christ  has  forsaken  his 
ministers,  or  is  not  present  in  their  administrations. 
Mr.  McKee's  pastoral  relation  to  the  church  con- 
tinued only  about  two  years.  After  his  dismission, 
Father  Osborne,  as  it  is  now  time  to  call  him,  under 
his  weight  of  four-score  years — the  time  when  men 
are  generally  expected  to 

"  Rather  sigh  and  groan  than  live," 

was  once  more  left  alone  in  the  pastorate.  His  labors 
would  have  been  suificiently  arduous,  even  if  the 
sky  had  been  as  serene  as  formerly,  over  his  admin- 
istration. But  he  was  now  to  pass  under  some 
clouds  and  meet  some  anxieties  and  cares  which 
were  new  in  his  experience. 

Though  calm  in  his  spirit  toward  men^  he  seldom 
failed  to  take  his  position  on  questions,  and  it  was 
done  in  such  a  way  that  all  knew  where  to  find  him. 
In  the  troubles  of  the  Presbyterian  church  previous 
to  1837,  and  which  then  resulted  in  the  organic  di- 
vision into  w^hat  are  now  known  as  the  Old  and  l^&w 
School,  Father  Osboru's  sympathies  were  with  the 
latter,  while  some  influential  members  of  his  session 
and  church,  and  a  majority  of  his  Presbytery  were 
with  the  former. 

Although  he  believed  and  preached  the  doctrines 
of  personal  election  and  the  certain  perseverance  of 
Christians,  still  his  friends  never  claimed  that  he  was 
a  strongly  Calvinistic  theologian;  and  in  this  time  of 
unusual   sharpness   in   searching   out   heresies,    he 


44  CHANGE  OF  RELATION. 

made  several  free  exposures,  (once  at  least  before  an 
assembly  of  co-presbyters,  under  much  provocation 
as  he  averred,)  of  views  of  the  atonement  which  were 
sure  to  be  oiFensive  to  a  rigid  Calvinist. 

It  was  in  the  midst  of  these  excitements  that  the 
Presbytery  of  West  Jersey,  which  geographically 
includes  Fairfield,  was  set  off  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia,  and  in  the  new  Presbytery  he  stood 
alone  among  the  ministers,  on  the  questions  which 
were  rocking  the  church.  Although  he  had  for 
long  years  been  an  acceptable  co-presbyter  with  men 
of  the  highest  orthodox  stamp,  such  for  example  as 
Doctor  Ashbel  Green,  still  his  ecclesiastical  position 
was  now  seriously  imperiled.  Measures  did  not, 
however,  reach  the  length  of  formal  charges  of 
heresy,  but  there  was  much  earnest  discussion  of  the 
matter,  both  in  and  outside  of  the  meetings  of  the 
Presbytery.  The  final  result  of  the  agitation  was 
the  dismemberment  of  his  church,  and  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Cedarville,  known 
as  the  Brick  church,  and  finally  the  transfer  of  him- 
self and  the  old  church,  from  the  Presbytery  of 
West  Jersey  to  the  Third  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia. *     In  this  last  connection  he  continued  to  the 


*  It  is  proper  to  say  that  the  Cedarville  organization  is  not  wholly 
due  to  this  disturbance.  The  necessity  of  a  separate  church  in  that 
village,  had  long  been  a  subject  of  thought,  and  without  the  excite- 
ment of  the  times,  things  were  nearly  ripe  for  it.  There  is,  however, 
no  question  that  the  events  recorded  above  were  the  immediate  oc- 
casion of  the  separation,  and  it  is  certainly  owing  to  the  earnest 
strife  of  that  day,  that  the  village  of  Cedarville  now  contains  two 
Presbyterian  churches. 


INFLUENCE  UNIMPAIRED. 


45 


end  of  life,  in  great  peace  with  all  branches  of  the 
chnrch  of  our  common  Redeemer. 

But  while  Father  Osborn  took  his  position  strong- 
ly, and  maintained  it  amidst  a  warm  excitement 
rising  sometimes  to  asperity,  he  was  enabled  to  main- 
tain in  the  view  of  all  sides,  his  character  for  integ- 
rity and  piety.  The  settling  away  of  the  first  excite- 
ments of  the  dispute,  found  him  still  high  in  the 
confidence  of  both  Old  and  E'ew  School,  and  in  the 
society  and  pulpits  of  all,  he  was  once  more  the  dear 
and  honored  minister  of  Christ.  The  difterence,  so 
far  as  it  affected  his  personal  relation  to  his  breth- 
ren, was  soon  forgotten  by  almost  all,  and  by  none 
sooner  than  himself.  I  believe  I  may  say  that  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  every  church  in  Fairfield  bearing 
any  relation  to  his  former  charge,  and  every  minis- 
ter of  the  Presbytery  to  which  he  formerly  belong- 
ed, regarded  him  with  the  same  unaffected  reverence 
as  if  the  times  from  1836  to  1840,  had  never  had  an 
existence. 

I  knew  him  when  these  events  were  yet  fresh,  be- 
fore lacerated  tempers  generally  have  time  for  heal- 
ing, and  my  relations  to  him  were  such  that  if  he 
was  disposed  to  transmit  any  latent  grudge  to  any 
living  mortal,  he  would  probably  have  sought  to  im- 
bue me  with  it.  But  I  rejoice  to  say  I  never  heard 
from  his  lips  a  word  which  would  have  gone  harsh- 
ly to  the  feelings  of  those  with  whom  he  had  come 
into  ecclesiastical  conflict.  It  was  a  subject  upon 
which  he  seldom  spoke,  and  as  time  wore  away,  he 
as  seldom  thought.     It  is  a  fact  full  of  significance 


46         THE  CHURCH  BECOMES  THREE. 

respecting  his  spirit,  that  when  his  memory  hegan 
to  he  seriously  impaired,  the  division  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  was  the  first  ecclesiastical  event  of 
any  importance  which  in  his  mind,  was  clouded 
mth  a  haze.  Four  years  previous  to  his  death, 
when  the  outlines  of  the  history  of  his  pastoral 
charge  were  still  clear  in  his  remembrance,  and 
when  he  spoke  freshly  of  the  formation  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  West  Jersey,  he  was  bewildered  when  ask- 
ed for  the  circumstances  of  his  separation  from  it, 
and  only  succeeded  with  great  difficulty,  in  recalling 
the  fact  of  the  division  of  the  church.  It  is  a  mourn- 
ful spectacle  to  witness  the  waning  powers  of  a  noble 
mind,  but  the  thought  could  hardly  be  avoided,  that 
if  the  failure  of  his  memory  had  produced  no  obli- 
vions more  painful  than  this,  he  might  almost  have 
been  congratulated  on  its  decline. 

About  the  same  time  with  the  organization  of  the 
Old  School  church  in  Cedarville,  Father  Osborn  was 
called  to  give  up  another  portion  of  his  people  who, 
on  account  of  the  local  inconvenience  of  the  Stone 
church  to  them,  formed  a  E'ew  School  church  in 
Cedarville.  Most  of  the  members  of  this  church 
went  in  with  certificates  from  the  old  Fairfield  ses- 
sion. Thus  the  organization  which  had  remained 
intact  for  about  a  century  and  a  half,  became  sud- 
denly multiplied  into  the  three  Presbyterian  churches 
which  now  exist  in  the  township  of  Fairfield,  to  wit : 
The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Fairfield,  since  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Fairton,  which  retains  the 
legal   succession,   and  is  now   under   the   pastoral 


THEIR  PRESENT  CONDITION.  47 

charge  of  Rev.  James  Boggs ;  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  Cedarville,  (the  Brick  church,)  of  which 
Rev.  John  A.  Annin  is  pastor;  and  the  Second 
Presbyterian  church  of  Cedarville,  (the  "White 
church,)  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles  F. 
Diver.  The  first  and  last  are  connected  with  the 
Fourth  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Brick 
church  with  the  Presbytery  of  West  Jersey.  All  of 
them  are  in  a  state  of  thrift,  perhaps  exceeding  that 
of  the  average  of  churches  of  their  circumstances 
and  breadth  of  field ;  and  they  live  in  as  harmonious 
intercourse  as  any  group  of  churches  within  my 
knowledge.  Harmony  was  the  spirit  breathed  into 
their  parents  under  the  ministrations  of  their  sacra- 
mental father,  and  until  recently,  the  sight  of  his 
venerable  form  among  them,  has  been  a  gentle  and 
living  admonition — ^'  Children,  love  one  another!" 

Father  Osborn  continued  to  preside  over  the 
mother  church  after  its  severe  depletion  ])y  the  drafts 
from  Cedarville,  until  1844.  He  had  then  reached 
his  eighty-sixth  year,  and  his  weight  of  years  seemed 
to  present  an  imperative  necessity  for  his  release 
from  the  care  of  a  congregation.  He  presented  his 
request  for  a  dismission,  to  the  Presbytery,  and  that 
body  thereupon  sundered  the  long,  well  sustained, 
and  mutually  afiectionate  relation  between  the  pas- 
tor and  people  of  the  Old  Stone  church.  It  was  felt 
by  all  concerned  as  a  mournful  necessity.  It  is  sel- 
dom that  a  minister  becomes  in  so  many  respects, 
the  spiritual  father  of  his  fiock.  There  was  but  here 
and   there  one   who  could  remember  his   comins: 


48  CLOSE  OF  THE  PASTORATE. 

among  tliem.  Of  all  wlio  were  members  of  the 
church  at  that  time,  one  aged  man  alone  remained.  * 
Fairfield,  since  his  settlement,  had  received  but  little 
increase  by  immigration,  and  consequently  acces- 
sions to  the  church  by  certificate,  had  been  rare. 
Almost  all  who  were  members  at  the  time  of  his  dis- 
mission, had  received  their  baptism  at  his  hands,  and 
their  covenant  vows  from  his  lips.  They  were  the 
children  for  whom  he  had  travailed  in  birth  until 
Christ  was  formed  in  them.  But  it  was  a  necessity 
which  should  be  met  by  submission,  not  rebellion ; 
and  the  Presbytery,  pastor,  and  people  all  bowed 
under  it  and  said,  "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done!" 
In  closing  the  history  of  his  pastoral  administra- 
tion, the  minute  adopted  by  the  Presbytery,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  dismission,  April  1844,  may  be  ap- 
propriately subjoined.  It  was  prepared  by  Rev. 
David  Malin,  D.  D. 

"  In  complying  with  the  request  of  our  venerable  Father  and 
Brother  in  the  ministry,  the  Rev.  Ethan  Osborn,  to  dissolve 
the  Pastoral  relation  between  himself  and  the  church  and  con- 
gregation of  Fairlield,  New  Jersey,  the  Presbytery  feel  that  there 
are  circumstances  of  interest  which  render  it  worthy  of  peculiar 
notice. 

"  For  fifty-four  years,  Father  Osborn  has  ministered  to  this 
branch  of  Zion,  during  which  time   a   degree  of  harmony   and 

*  Mr.  Nathan  Bateman,  whose  subsequent  death  and  burial  are 
noticed  in  a  letter  to  Father  Osborn's  sister,  Mrs.  Kilbourn.  "  Nov.  7, 
1848.  This  morning  Nathan  Bateman  died.  Of  125  members  of  the 
church  at  my  ordination,  he  was  the  last.  I  am  requested  to  preach 
at  his  funeral  to-morrow.  8th.  I  returned  from  the  funeral  near 
noon.     A  large  number  attended-.     My  text  was  Heb.  iv.  9."  , 


PRESBYTERIAL  TRIBUTE.  49 

friendship  has  subsisted  between  pastor  and  people,  and  a  suc- 
cess has  attended  his  ministry,  highly  creditable  to  them,  and 
happily  illustrating  the  beauty  and  importance  of  a  permanent 
pastoral  relation. 

"  Now,  late  in  the  evening  of  life,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his 
age,  after  having  been  permitted  to  enjoy  in  connection  with  his 
labors,  several  revivals  of  religion ;  and  after  having  buried  all 
but  one  of  those  who  composed  his  flock  at  the  time  of  his  instal- 
lation ;  and  after  having  seen  the  children  of  two  generations, 
baptized  with  his  own  hands,  succeeding  to  the  places  in  the 
church  vacated  by  their  fathers,  he  comes  with  an  undiminished 
regard  for  his  people,  and  in  the  unabated  enjoyment  of  their 
confidence  and  afi'ection,  to  commit  his  united  and  happy  charge 
to  the  care  of  this  body. 

"  The  Presbytery  commend  this  church  for  providing  that  their 
worthy  and  venerable  Pastor  may  continue  to  lean  upon  their 
arm  while  he  lives,  and  recline  on  their  bosom  when  he  dies,  and 
hope  that  other  churches  may  follow  their  example." 


PART    III. 

-  FROM  HIS  DISMISSION  TO  HIS  DECEASE. 

FouETEEN  years  of  life  remained  to  Father  Osborii 
as  a  minister  without  a  pastoral  charge.  Those  who 
supposed  that  after  his  dismission,  he  would  resign 
himself  to  the  repose  which  an  old  man  is  expected 
to'seek,  underrated  the  strength  of  his  devotion  to 
the  work  of  God.  In  his  own  breast  there  was  no 
such  thought.  In  a  letter  to  his  Litchfield  friends, 
written  after  he  had  announced  his  intention  to  ask 
a  dismission,  but  before  it  had  been  carried  into 
eflect,  he  says — "  Do  remember  me  to  James  Birge, 
Esq.  *  and  tell  him  I  shall  still  preach  more  or  less, 
when  I  am  dismissed."  The  ruling  sentiment  of  his 
heart  had  been  love  to  Christ,  to  his  work,  and  to 
the  souls  of  men.  From  step  to  step,  it  had  carried 
him  through  rising  degrees  of  devotion  to  his  profes- 
sion, until  at  the  moment  when  he  received  ecclesi- 
astical liberty  to  retire,  he  found  himself  under 
another. law,  as  if  written  upon  the  chamber  of  his 
heart,  ''  Necessity  is  laid  upon  me,  yea  woe  is  unto 
me,  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel !" 

Throughout  the  churches  of  the  region,  his  name 
was  a  household  word,  and  there  were  few  of  them 
to  whom  a  pastor  could  ofifer  a  more  accepta- 
ble occasional  treat,    than   to  present  before  them 

*  A  companion  in  arras  during  his  service  in  the  army. 


LOVE  FOR  HIS  WORK.  51 

Father  Osborn  as  the  preacher  for  the  day.  He 
availed  himself  of  numerous  invitations  to  supply 
neighboring  pulpits,  either  to  fill  vacancies,  or  to 
give  pastors  a  Sabbath's  respite.  Preserving  those 
methodical  habits  for  which  he  was  peculiar,  he  was 
accustomed  to  spend  the  months  from  the  cooling 
off  of  summer  heat  to  the  time  for  "going  into 
winter  quarters,"  as  he  expressed  it,  in  a  round  of 
preaching  excursions  sometimes  reaching  from  Pitts- 
grove  to  Cape  May.  In  this  circuit,  denomination- 
alism  was  ignored.  To  him,  the  pulpits  of  Presby- 
terian, Baptist,  or  Methodist  churches  were  all  the 
same,  if  he  could  but  use  them  to  "  speak  as  a  dying 
man  unto  dying  men."  IsTovember  7,  1848,  (re- 
member he  has  now  passed  his  ninetieth  year,)  he 
writes  to  his  sister  Kilbourn  : 

"  Since  my  return,  [from  his  last  visit  to  Connecticut,]  I  have 
not  been  idle,  but  have  preached  here  and  there  among  the  Bap- 
tists, Methodists,  Old  School  and  New  School  Presbyterians.  Out 
of  twenty-five  Sabbaths  in  succession,  I  have  preached  nineteen; 
in  all  cases  but  two,  in  the  surrounding  congregations." 

By  the  "surrounding  congregations,"  I  suppose 
he  means  those  which  are  in  Fairfield  and  the  re- 
gion around.  He  was  a  frequent  preacher  in  the 
Old  Stone  Church,  the  scene  of  his  former  labors  ;  in- 
deed for  at  least  six  years,  he  conducted  the  morn- 
ing service  there  about  once  a  month. 

The  last  sermon  which  he  wrote,  was  a  farewell 
to  that  venerable  edifice,  on  the  occasion  of  the  re- 
moval of  the  congregation  to  Fairton.  The  setting 
off  of  the  Cedarville  churches  had  created  such  a 


52  VALEDICTORY    TO 

geograpMcal  change  in  tlie  congTegation,  that  a  new 
location  became  essential  to  its  prosperity.  A  new 
house  of  worship  had  been  erected  in  the  growing 
village  of  Fairton,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  west,  and 
by  arrangement,  March  20,  1850,  was  designated  as 
the  time  when,  with  preaching  and  sacramental 
communion,  we  should  turn  from  the  consecrated 
walls,  hallowed  by  so  many  exhortations,  prayers, 
sacraments,  sorrows  and  joys,  and  leave  them  alone, 
a  silent  memorial  of  the  past,  a  monument  of  change 
and  death. 

At  the  request  of  the  pastor  and  session.  Father 
Osborn  accepted  the  charge  of  preparing  a  sermon 
for  the  occasion ;  indeed  there  would  have  been  an 
unpardonable  impropriety  in  any  other  arrangement. 
The  reader  will  be  grateful  for  some  quotations  from 
this  sermon.  *  I  will  offer  no  apology  for  lengthen- 
ing the  number  of  these  pages  with  copious  extracts 
from  a  performance  which  may  exhibit  less  vigor 
than  some  of  his  earlier  efforts  would  show.  We 
have  passed  his  prime.  I  now  wish  to  bring  out  the 
aged  preacher,  in  all  the  faithfulness  of  his  still  lov- 
ing heart,  and  under  circumstances  which  could  not 
fail  to  awaken  for  him  the  sympathy  of  his  audience. 
He  is  now  in  his  ninety-second  year.  The  place 
where  he  stands  was  the  scene  of  his  eventful  minis- 
trations for  more  than  half  a  century,  and  he  does 
not  expect  ever  to  preach  from  that  pulpit  again. 


■^  For  a  copy  I  am  indebted  to  the  family  of  liis  son-in-law,  Rickart 
Hurd  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  through  whose  care  the  original  MS.  has 
been  preserved. 


THE  OLD  STONE  CHURCH.  53 

After  referring  to  the  ministry  of  liis  predecessor, 
who  in  1780  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  house, 
to  his  own  labors  there,  and  to  those  of  the  writer 
of  this  memorial,  then  the  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tion, he  proceeds — 

"  I  may  safely  say  that  by  the  preaching  of  these  three  minis- 
ters, in  this  house,  the  doctrines  and  all  things  essential  to  duty 
and  salvation,  have  been  clearly  explained  and  faithfully  urged 
upon  the  people.  The  doctrine  of  human  depravity  has  been  ex- 
plained and  proved  from  Scripture  and  common  observation.  Here 
also  the  doctrine  of  regeneration  has  been  repeatedly  set  forth, 
and  the  absolute  necessity  of  it  urged  upon  the  people.  It  has 
been  shown  that  we  must  be  new  created  in  Christ  Jesus,  must 
have  the  love  of  God  ruling  in  our  hearts,  or  we  can  never  be  ad- 
mitted into  his  kingdom. 

"  Also  the  doctrines  of  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  have  been  faithfully  preached  in  this  house, 
and  their  absolute  necessity  in  order  to  obtain  pardon  and  heaven- 
ly felicity.  Likewise  the  duties  prescribed  in  the  gospel  have 
been  explained  and  insisted  on.  The  people  have  been  informed 
that  supreme  love  to  God  is  their  indispensable  duty.  Here  also 
they  have  been  taught  the  duties  we  owe,  one  to  another,  to  do 
good  to  all  according  to  our  abilities  and  opportunities  :  and 
to  ourselves,  to  live  sober  and  religious  lives  in  the  world.  Here 
also,  that  the  law  forbids  every  sin,  whether  in  action,  word  or 
heart,  and  pronounces  a  curse  on  every  transgressor  of  it.  For 
*  cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things  which  are 
written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them.'  And  as  all  have  sinned, 
therefore  no  human  being  can  be  justified  before  God  by  the  deeds 
of  the  law,  or  by  meritorious  obedience.  The  law  requires  per- 
fect and  perpetual  obedience.  But  as  no  man  has  yielded  such 
obedience,  or  possessed  sinless  perfection,  therefore  in  vain  do  you 
now  look  to  the  law  for  justification, 

'  Since  to  convince  and  to  condemn, 
Is  all  the  law  can  do.' 

5* 


54  SOLEMN   APPEALS 

"  But,  thanks  to  God  1  the  gospel  reveals  a  way  of  justification, 
how  we  may  obtain  forgiveness  and  the  favor  of  God.  And  this 
blessed  gospel  has  often  been  preached  in  this  house,  the  gospel 
which  ofiers  a  free  pardon  to  every  humble  penitent.  '  This  is  a 
faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.'  The  blessed  Saviour  in- 
vites the  weary  and  heavy  laden  sinner  to  come  to  him,  assuring 
him  that  he  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day,  to  eternal  life. 
Such  is  the  inviting  and  beneficent  language  of  the  gospel.  But 
at  the  same  time,  both  law  and  gospel  denounce  everlasting  pun- 
ishment on  such  as  reject  the  Saviour  and  die  impenitent. 

"Now  the  interesting  question  is,  How  have  the  people  im- 
proved the  preaching  of  the  law  and  the  gospel  ?  Most  of  those 
who  lived  under  the  ministry  of  my  predecessor  have  gone  to  the 
grave.*  But  to  you  who  are  yet  living  and  hearing  the  gospel, 
the  question  is  solemn  and  important.  Have  you  so  improved 
the  preaching  of  God's  word  as  to  become  wise  unto  salvation 
through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  ? 

"  To  those  who  are  pious  believers,  I  would  say,  you  have 
chosen  the  good  part,  and  God  has  begun  a  gracious  work  in  you 
which  he  will  carry  on  until  it  terminates  in  glory.  So  that  by 
faith  in  Christ,  having  laid  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  us,  you 
may  have  a  strong  consolation,  and  go  on  your  Christian  course 
rejoicing.  Be  not  satisfied  with  your  present  relative  attainments, 
but  press  forward  to  the  mark  of  perfection,  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Use  the  appointed  means  of  read- 
ing and  hearing  the  word  of  God,  not  forsaking  the  assembling 
of  yourselves  for  public  worship,  as  many  do,  and  by  no  means 
neglect  the  privilege  and  duty  of  prayer.  Ask  and  receive,  not 
only  that  you  may  have  grace  to  serve  God^  but  that  you  may 
also  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  your  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.     In  this  way  religion  will  become  more  pleasant.     The 

■^  He  might  have  said  all — literally  so,  if  he  referred  to  those  who 
when  they  heard  his  predecessor,  were  old  enough  to  recall  any  of 
the  instruction  imparted. 


TO    FORMER  HEARERS.  55 

nearer  you  advance  toward  heavenly  perfection,  the  more  delight- 
ed you  will  be  with  heavenly  enjoyment.  *  0  taste  and  see  that 
the  Lord  is  good.' 

*  Come  learn  his  pleasant  ways, 
And  let  us  taste  his  grace.' 

"  Never  be  weary  in  well  doing,  for  in  perseverance,  you  shall 
in  due  time  reap  a  glorious  harvest.  As  an  inducement  thus  to 
live  and  spend  your  remaining  days,  remember  your  judge  and 
mine  will  ere  long  call  us  to  answer,  how  I  have  preached  the 
gospel  and  how  you  have  improved  it. 

"  I  now  turn  to  those  of  you  whose  future  happiness  is  not  yet 
secured  by  faith  in  the  Mediator.  Your  situation  is  awfully 
dangerous.  You  are  now  suspended  between  the  possibility  of 
eternal  happiness  or  eternal  misery.  You  are  now  between  the 
two  vast  extremes,  or  if  I  may  more  plainly  express  it  between 
heaven  and  hell.  Either  celestial  happiness  or  infernal  misery 
must  in  a  short  time  be  your  everlasting  portion.  How  solemn  is 
the  prospect  before  you — the  joys  of  heaven  or  the  sorrows  of 
hell,  one  of  which  must  be  your  everlasting  portion, — the  latter 
except  ye  turn  at  God's  reproof.  '  As  though  God  did  beseech 
you  by  us,  we  pray  you,  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to 
God.'  Believe  me  when  I  say  it  is  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer 
to  God,  that  you  and  I  may  have  a  joyful  meeting  at  the  judgment, 
in  the  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  As  we  expect  this  to  be  the  last  Sabbath  on  which  I  shall 
speak  to  you  from  this  pulpit,  let  me  say,  in  the  presence  of  God 
who  knows  my  heart,  that  I  have  endeavored  and  prayed  that  I 
might  faithfully  perform  my  ministerial  duties.  Though  I  am 
conscious  of  much  imperfection,  God  is  my  witness,  that  I  have 
ever  preached  such  doctrine  and  precepts  as  I  verily  believe  are 
agreeable  to  his  word.  I  have  repeatedly  said,  '  the  lines  are  fal- 
len unto  me  in  pleasant  places ;  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage.' 
With  gratitude  to  God  I  look  back  upon  the  religious  revivals 
with  which  he  has  blessed  us  and  the  friendly  relations  which 
have  subsisted  between  us.  It  is  no  small  satisfaction  that  as 
pastor  and  people  we  separated  as  friends,  and  that  a  pleasant 


56  INTERESTING  COINCIDENCE. 

intercourse  subsists  between  myself  and  my  successor,  your 
present  pastor.  Never  were  the  people  more  dear  to  me,  I  shall 
love  them  as  lonji;  as  I  live. 

*'  Excuse  my  plainness,  and  permit  me  once  more  to  say  in  the 
fullness  of  my  feelings,  that  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God 
for  you  all  is,  that  you  may  be  saved.  As  it  will  not  be  long 
before  we  must  each  answer  to  God — I  for  my  ministry,  and  you 
for  your  improvement  of  it,  let  us  be  diligent  in  what  duty  re- 
mains and  in  advancing  toward  heaven.  Let  brotherly  love  con- 
tinue and  abound,  until  it  shall  be  perfected  in  the  heavenly 
kingdom.  And  may  God  prepare  us  all  to  meet  in  heaven  !  I 
now  bid  you  a  cordial  farewell,  praying  that  it  may  fare  well 
with  you  in  this  world,  in  blessings  of  health  and  prosperity,  as 
far  as  shall  be  for  God's  glory  and  your  own  good,  and  that  in 
the  future  world,  entered  with  your  blessed  Saviour  into  the  joy 
of  your  Lord,  you  may  fare  well." 

There  is  a  mournful  comeliness  in  the  circum- 
stance that  his  last  attempt  to  compose  a  sermon 
should  have  been  reserved  for  the  last  Sabbath  ser- 
vice that  was  held  within  that  venerable  sanc- 
tuary, which,  to  him,  was  the  most  sacred  place 
this  side  of  heaven.  It  almost  seems  as  if  the  build- 
ing which,  while  its  walls  were  yet  fresh  from  the 
hands  of  the  builder,  had  received  him  as  the  mes- 
senger of  heaven,  and  which  had  advanced  along 
with  him  from  youth  to  old  age,  grew  weary  of  the 
voice  of  men  as  the  time  approached  for  his  plain 
and  gentle-toned  utterances  to  be  heard  no  more. 

In  speaking  of  this  discourse  as  his  last  attempt 
at  sermonizing,  I  refer  to  the  labors  of  his  study — 
writing  for  the  pnlpit.  It  must  not  be  understood  that 
he  then  ceased  to  preach.  From  this  time  forward, 
it  is  true,  there  was  a  more  perceptible  falling  away 
of  power  for  public  labors;  still  his  friends  in  this 


PKEACHES  NO  MORE.  57 

region  know  how  dearly  that  blessed  old  servant  of 
Christ  loved  to  preach,  and  how  earnestly  he  con- 
tinued, for  several  years  more,  to  lift  np  his  voice 
for  the  gospel.  But  nature  could  not  hold  out  for- 
ever. The  intervals  between  his  pulpit  labors 
lengthened,  until  the  summer  of  1855,  when  at  the 
age  of  ninety-seven,  in  the  church  in  Fairton,  he 
preached  for  the  last  time.  Who  can  tell  how  aflect- 
ing  a  service  it  would  have  been  to  himself,  had  he 
supposed  that  it  was,  with  the  exception  of  assisting 
in  subordinate  parts  of  service,  his  last  official  min- 
istration. Was  it  not  a  gentle  providence  that  he 
did  not  ?  This  service,  reckoning  from  his  licensure 
in  1786,  completed  sixty-nine  years  of  actual  service 
as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  salvation. 

While  among  the  last  things  of  Father  Osborn, 
the  reader  will  find  room  for  some  thoughtful  re- 
flections in  perusing  what  is  supposed  to  be  the  last 
letter  which  he  wrote.*  It  is  dated  a  little  more 
than  two  years  previous  to  his  death,  and  addressed 
to  the  sole  survivor  among  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
Mrs.  Thalia  Kilbourn.  Mark  how  oblivious  he  be- 
comes of  long  periods,  speaking  of  the  characteris- 
tics of  the  country  as  if  he  were  a  fresh  emigrant 
giving  information  that  was  all  new  to  her,  and  of 
his  exchange  with  Mr.  Smalley,  a  clergyman  who 
had  been  deceased  some  twenty  years,  as  if  it  were 
a  recent  event.  Observe  also,  how  the  fact  that  all 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  except  herself  had  gone, 


*  One  of  later  date  has  been  discovered  since  this  paragraph  was 
written. 


58  AN  OLD  man's  letter. 

has  passed  from  his  memory.  The  thought  of  his 
offering  himself,  at  ninety-six  years  of  age,  to  supply 
a  vacant  congregation  in  Connecticut,  may  excite  a 
smile,  but  it  will  be  one  of  pleasure  in  the  inex- 
haustible strength  of  his  devotion  to  the  work  of 
his  Master.  It  is  the  expression  of  his  indomitable 
passion  to  be  always  preaching  Christ. 

"Fairfield,  New  Jersey, 

January  23, 1855. 

*'Dear  Sister, — Through  the  goodness  of  God,  who  is  the 
giver  of  every  good  gift,  we  enjoy  good  health.  I  say  we,  mean- 
ing Sarah  McQueen  and  myself.  We  live  in  a  two  story  house, 
with  a  good  cellar  under  it  and  chambers.  The  water  is  not 
quite  so  good  as  it  is  in  Connecticut,  though  better  than  that 
which  is  still  nearer  the  salt  marshes.  The  face  of  the  country 
is  one  vast  extended  plain  for  miles  around.  No  stones  on  the 
surface  ;  some  are  found  in  brooks  and  rivulets.  The  land  has 
been  so  worried  with  crops,  year  after  year,  that  it  produces 
about  the  same  as  in  Connecticut.*  The  land  does  not  produce 
potatoes  so  plentifully  as  in  Connecticut,  but  they  are  more  mild 
and  have  no  strong  taste.  They  make  no  use  of  potatoes  for 
fattening  and  raising  hogs.  They  feed  their  horses  almost 
altogether  with  corn. 

"  Their  religious  practices  are  commendable.  Very  few 
families  who  attend  no  religious  meeting.  I  know  of  none.  We 
have  different  sects  as  you  have ;  the  Presbyterians  most  nume- 
rous ;  then  the  Methodists,  and  then  the  Baptists.  They  are 
mingled  in  the  same  neighborhood  without  any  contention,  and 
unite  in  business  as  if  of  one  denomination.  I  have  exchanged 
pulpits  with  Mr.  Smalley,  a  Baptist  minister :  no  complaint  was 
made.  In  religion,  the  earth  seems  to  be  still  and  at  rest.  I 
trust  many  have  vital  piety.     The  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the 


*  He  is  speaking  of  the  couiitry  as  it  was  before  the  agricultural 
advancements  of  the  last  twenty-five  years. 


CANNOT  FORGET  PRAYER.  59 

Lord's  Supper  are  regularly  administered  quarterly — four  times 
in  a  year. 

"Do  write  before  long,  and  tell  who  of  our  father's  children 
and  grand  children  are  living,  and  who  of  the  Landons  are  liv- 
ing. Who  is  your  minister  now  ?  And  who  preaches  in  Milton? 
If  they  have  none,  I  think  I  should  be  willing  to  preach  for  them 
awhile.  I  was  dismissed  by  my  own  request.  Mr.  Meeker  is 
our  minister  now,  and  is  well  esteemed.  We  live  in  peace,  and 
may  the  God  of  peace  be  with  and  bless  you. 

*'  Ethan  Osborx.'' 

From  this  time  forward,  there  was  supposed  to  be 
a  rapid  decay  of  his  mental  powers.  Having  before 
this  time  been  transferred  to  a  parish  in  another 
State,  I  had  few  opportunities  for  a  personal  obser- 
vation of  the  condition  of  his  mind.  "When  I  occa- 
sionally did  see  him,  it  appeared  to  me — and  in  this 
view  I  am  supported  by  some  of  his  most  judicious 
friends — that  his  faculties  generally  were  in  a  much 
sounder  condition  than  casual  observers  supposed. 
His  memory  was  far  gone,  sometimes  so  far  that  he 
seemed  to  lose  the  recollection  of  those  who  were 
dearest  to  him  in  life.  Often  he  could  not  remem- 
ber the  common  events  of  life,  an  instant  after  they 
had  passed.  He  would  sometimes  perform  family 
worship  twice  in  the  morning,  and  I  believe  in  some 
cases  a  third  time,  forgetting  that  it  had  been  ob- 
served at  all.  It  is  however  a  striking  index  to  the 
state  of  his  heart,  that  his  memory  of  worship  was 
never  treacherous  in  the  opposite  direction.  He 
never  forgot  to  observe  family  devotions. 

Still  I  could  never  perceive  but  his  perception  of 
truth,  his  reason,  and  even  his  judgment  were  sound, 


60 

when  some  friendly  voice  was  at  hand  to  keep  his 
mind  from  losing  the  points  of  a  conversation. 
Without  such  assistance,  he  would  soon  become  be- 
wildered. But  with  the  simple  aid  of  prompting  his 
memory,  I  have  heard  him,  within  the  last  year  of 
his  life,  make  observations,  and  even  draw  conclu- 
sions from  a  process  of  reasoning,  with  the  sense 
and  shrewdness  which  belonged  to  his  better  days. 
Let  it  be  remembered  how  the  loss  of  the  single 
faculty  of  memory  seems  to  unhinge  the  whole  mind, 
and  the  ap'parent  intellectual  decay  of  Father  Osborn, 
in  his  last  year,  is  explained. 

With  all  the  infirmity  which  he  carried  into  these 
years  of  almost  absolute  retirement  from  the  world, 
it  may  with  truth  be  said  that  his  last  days  were  his 
best  days.  His  spiritual  sense  was  never  dimmed. 
Ask  him  of  things  of  this  world,  even  the  number 
and  names  of  his  own  children,  and  in  the  effort  to 
gather  up  a  correct  reply,  his  mind  would  often  be- 
come so  confused,  that  the  whole  subject  would  es- 
cape his  attention.  But  ask  him  of  the  dealings  of 
God  with  his  soul,  and  his  bow  abode  in  strength. 
Among  earthly  things,  he  might  often  be  lost,  but 
he  never  wandered  in  the  way  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  People  said  with  wonder — ''How  happy 
Father  Osborn  is !  and  how  happy  he  makes  all 
around  him  !"  It  did  seem  strange  that  one  so  lost 
to  the  natural  enjoyments  of  life,  and  who  was  such 
an  object  of  care  and  anxiety,  requiring  for  his  safe- 
ty an  almost  sleepless  vigilance,  should  still  retain 
the  power  of  diffusing   such  a  serene  tranquillity 


ONCE  MORE  IN  A  REVIVAL.  61 

around  him.  But  there  he  sat,  or  walked  from  room 
to  room,  or  wandered  ahout  the  grounds,  singing 
some  happy  song  of  Zion,  or  rehiting  some  sweet  ex- 
perience, talking  always  of  mercies,  and  wondering 
how  any  can  complain  when  God  is  so  good. 

But  his  work  for  God  is  not  yet  done,  and  we  are 
to  contemplate  him  once  more  in  the  field  of  active 
duty.  The  winter  of  1857-8,  was  to  all  the  churches 
of  Fairfield,  a  season  of  great  refreshing.  The  work 
was  general,  powerful,  and  full  of  incidents  illustra- 
ting the  power  of  prayer. 

The  cry — A  Revival !  was  one  which  would  almost 
move  Father  Oshorn  in  his  coffin :  certainly  while 
living,  it  could  not  fail  to  kindle  all  the  inflamma- 
bility that  was  left  in  his  nature.  It  did  not  start 
his  spirit  into  new  life,  for  it  found  him  already  gird- 
ed, arming  himself  for  his  last  battle  in  the  earthly 
Christian  warfare.  It  came  not  to  rouse  him  to  pray- 
er, for  it  found  him  praying  for  this  one  more  sight 
of  the  glory  of  salvation  among  the  community 
whom  he  never  ceased  to  call  his  people.  It  may 
well  be  doubted  whether,  in  the  sight  of  God,  there 
was  any  human  agent  in  that  great  revival,  more 
active  than  the  old  pastor,  wrestling  with  the  Angel 
of  the  Covenant,  in  his  Bethel  home.  Like  the  pa- 
triarch, he^  wrestled  almost  literally  until  the  break- 
ing of  the  day,  for  so  engrossing  had  the  work  be- 
come to  his  own  soul,  that  he  sometimes  rose  from 
his  bed,  in  the  dead  of  night,  to  pray  for  particular 
unconverted  persons  whose  spiritual  peril  awakened 
in  him  anxieties  too  deep  to  allow  slumber. 
6 


62  LAST   PUBLIC  APPEARANCE. 

His  apprehension  of  things  around  him,  such  as 
the  spiritual  condition  of  his  neighbors  and  the  state 
of  the  churches,  experienced  an  astonishing  resus- 
citation, and  he  was  once  more  in  the  blaze  of  the 
old  revival  years.  Most  of  this,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, was  at  a  remove  from  the  sympathetic  influ- 
ences of  crowded  assemblies  with  their  mourning 
sinners  and  happy  converts.  It  was  mostly  in  the 
quiet  of  his  own  household,  and  in  the  deeper  seclu- 
sion of  his  communion  with  God.  He  attended 
only  a  few  of  the  public  meetings;  his  infirmities 
forbade  his  going  abroad  oftener.  But  he  kept  him- 
self advised  of  all  that  was  going  forward,  and 
preached  to  his  family,  (then  consisting  of  two 
persons  in  addition  to  himself,)  of  the  wondrous 
salvation  of  God,  and  held  with  them  many  meet- 
ings of  prayer  for  a  blessed  ingathering  of  souls. 

His  last  appearance  in  church  was  in  connection 
with  this  work.  He  was  then  in  the  one  hun- 
dredth year  of  his  age.  It  was  in  the  "White 
Church,"  in  Cedarville,  at  a  meeting  of  ''young 
converts,"  in  number  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  hundred,  to  listen  to  a  sermon  from  Rev. 
Mr.  Parker,  who  had  greatly  aided  some  of  the 
local  pastors  during  that  season  of  arduous  labor. 
He  heard  Mr.  Parker  with  fixed  attention,  through 
a  long  and  interesting  discourse,  and  was  then 
called  on  to  add  an  exhortation,  and  offer  the  con- 
cluding prayer.  Concerning  this  performance,  the 
pastor,  Mr.  Diver,  writes  me — "  He  seemed  like  an 
old  veteran  commander  in  the  army,  taking  a  view 


APPROACHING  THE  END.  63 

of  tlie  recruits  just  entering  the  service  for  King 
Immanuel.  He  reminded  them  it  was  a  service 
for  life,  and  their  warfare  would  not  be  done  until 
they  obtained  their  crown.  In  such  a  manner  he 
spoke,  and  then  prayed  God  that  they  might  be 
faithful  unto  death." 

From  this  scene  he  returned  to  his  house,  and 
when  he  next  went  to  the  sanctuary,  it  was  where 
the  glorified  congregation  worship — 

"  Where  the  assembly  ne'er  breaks  up, 
The  Sabbath  ne'er  shall  end." 

His  translation  was  at  hand.  Though  more  vigorous 
in  body  and  mind  than  he  had  been  a  few  weeks 
previous,  he  saw  with  unerring  accuracy,  that  the 
time  had  almost  come,  and  his  peace  was  as  a  river. 
He  expressed  his  consciousness  of  the  near  approach 
of  death  to  his  beloved  niece,  who  for  many  years 
had  filled  a  daughter's  place  and  given  to  his  aged 
heart  a  daughter's  love.  Filled  with  sorrow  by  the 
suggestion,  she  inquired — "What  shall  I  do  with- 
out you?"  He  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  looking 
upon  her  out  of  his  loving  eye,  bade  her  be  com- 
forted, and  said — ''  "When  thy  father  and  thy  mother 
forsake  thee,  then  the  Lord  will  take  thee  up." 

I  have  been  furnished  with  a  letter,  written  by 
this  lady  to  Rev.  Robert  Osborn,  containing  a  vivid 
sketch  of  the  experiences  of  the  last  week  of  his 
life.  Though  written  without  a  thought  of  its  pub- 
lication, it  comes  so  freshly  from  the  chamber  of 
death,  that  with  Mr.  Osborn' s  permission — indeed 


64:  ON  THE  BANK  OP  THE  RIVER. 

at  Ills  suggestion,  I  subjoin  it  as  better  than  any 
other  account  which  it  is  now  possible  to  furnish  of 
that  ahnost  beatific  scene.  As  Mr.  Osborn  justly 
remarks,  in  his  note  forwarding  me  a  copy  of  the 
letter,  the  description  is  peculiarly  valuable  in  view 
of  the  source  from  which  it  comes.  "  She  was,"  he 
says,  ''  an  eye  witness,  and  was  not  one  who  is  liable 
to  be  swayed  by  her  feelings  alone." 

"  My  Dear  Cousin, — It  appears  to  me  like  months  instead  of 
weeks,  since  I  stood  by  the  dying  bed  of  my  ever  dear  uncle,  and 
saw  him  draw  his  last  breath.  Of  how  little  importance  did  the 
world  then  appear  to  me!  He  had  so  long  been  the  object  of 
constant  care  and  solicitude,  the  centre  of  all  my  thoughts  and 
labors,  that  it  almost  seemed  that  there  was  nothing  left  for  me 
to  live  for  ;  and  I  still  feel  an  indescribable  dreariness  that  none 
can  realize  who  have  not  felt  the  same.  I  am  glad  it  is  not 
wrong  to  weep,  and  I  can  at  times  rejoice  that  his  glorified  spirit 
is  free,  no  longer  cramped  and  bound  by  the  frail  tenement  that 
had  borne  the  trials  of  almost  an  hundred  years.  But  he  was  so 
ripe  for  heaven  and  enjoyed  such  a  blessed  nearness  to  the  Sa- 
viour, and  was  so  abundant  in  prayer,  that  although  for  him  to 
depart  and  be  with  Christ  was  far  better,  yet  his  death  has  left  a 
void  that  no  common  Christian  can  fill. 

"  How  I  wish  you  could  have  been  with  us  the  day  before  he 
was  taken  down.  I  shall  always  feel  thankful  for  the  privilege 
of  being  with  him  when  he  had,  (as  I  believe,)  a  view^  and  fore- 
taste of  heaven.  lie  had  passed  a  night  of  suffering.  In  the 
morning  he  slept  till  ten  o'clock.  When  he  awoke  he  was  all  life 
and  animation,  and  his  whole  appearance  was  changed.  He  had 
been  so  long  confined,  mostly  to  the  house,  that  his  complexion 
had  become  very  fair  and  clear.  Now,  his  face  was  full,  without 
a  wrinkle,  his  eyes  sparkled,  he  walked  erect ;  the  stoop  in  his 
shoulders  was  all  gone — his  appearance  was  beautiful.  He 
came  out  of  his  room  singing  words  that  I  never  heard  him  sing 


PASSING  OVER.  65 

before,  '0  happy!  0  happy!  My  happy,  happy  home !'  then 
spake  in  a  loud  clear  voice,  '0  what  a  glorious  King  is  Jesus! 
The  martyr  Stephen  saw  Heaven  opened  and  Jesus  standing  on 
the  right  hand  of  God/  He  then  spoke  of  the  glories  of  Heaven 
as  described  in  the  Revelation.     After  repeating  the  passages— 

*  and  there  shall  be  no  night  there  ;  they  stood  on  a  sea  of  glass  ; 
they  sang  the  Song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb ;'  and  after  speaking 
in  the  same  strain  a  long  time,  he  sang — 

'  0  glorious  hour!     0  blest  abode  ! 
I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God,'  &c. 

■     "  I  could  but  look  and  listen  almost  spell-bound,  and  the  words 

*  They  shall  flourish  in  immortal  youth,'  were  constantly  in  my  mind. 
He  took  a  slight  dinner,  and  then  seated  in  his  rocking  chair, 
with  his  head  resting  on  the  back  of  it,  and  eyes  fixed  upwards, 
he  sang  songs  of  praise  most  of  the  afternoon,  without  the  least 
apparent  fatigue  ;  not  low,  humming,  but  loud  and  clear,  ringing 
sweetly  through  all  the  house,  and  heard  distinctly  at  the  barn. 

"  When  asked  to  supper,  he  said,  '  Yes,  willingly  and  thank- 
fully.' He  wheeled  round  his  chair,  asked  a  blessing,  and  then 
sang — 

'  My  flesh  shall  slumber  in  the  ground 
Till  the  last  trumpet's  joyful  sound  ; 
Then  burst  the  chains  with  sweet  surprise, 
And  in  my  Saviour's  image  rise.' 

"  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  sung  that  verse,  though  the  pre- 
ceding ones  he  had  repeated  often.  He  took  supper  with  a  good 
appetite,  and  in  the  evening  asked  us  to  sing — 

'  How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord.' 

"  He  attended  family  prayer  three  times,  and  went  to  bed  ap- 
parently in  good  health.  He  was  awake  most  of  the  night,  but 
did  not  sufi'er  as  usual. 

"  Next  day  he  slept  till  noon,  took  a  little  dinner — then  slept 
again.  At  three  o'clock  I  found  he  was  unwell,  and  called  the 
Doctor,  who  was  very  attentive  to  the  last.  About  midnight  he 
expressed  his  belief  that  he  would  soon  leave  us  and  be  with  the 

6* 


66  LETTER  OF  CONDOLENCE. 

Saviour,  where  there  is  *  fullness  of  joy.'  He  gave  me  his  last 
charge  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  look  to  Him  and  He  would  not  for- 
sake me.  These  were  his  last  connected  words.  But  let  me  pass 
over  those  two  days  and  a  half.  Suffice  it  to  say,  '  he  was  made 
perfect  through  suffering,'  and  left  us  at  noon  on  Saturday ! 

'  Servant  of  God,  well  done  ! 
Praise  be  thy  sweet  employ.'  " 

Sucli  a  close  of  such  a  life  !  Could  the  one  better 
befit  the  other  ?  Almost  literally  like  the  prophet 
Elijah,  he  went  on  talking  with  us  along  the  coun- 
tr}^  of  Jordan,  until  it  came  to  pass  as  he  still  went 
on  and  talked,  there  appeared  a  chariot  of  fire  and 
horses  of  fire,  and  parted  him  from  us.  It  is  not 
strange  that  when  we  beheld  such  a  translation,  we 
cried — "My  father!  my  father!  the  chariot  of  Israel 
and  the  horsemen  thereof!"  Be  ours  the  supplication 
that  a  double  portion  of  his  spirit  may  rest  on  us ! 

From  among  the  numerous  testimonials  to  the 
worth  and  loveliness  of  Father  Osborn,  contained 
in  letters  of  sympathy  addressed  to  his  family,  the 
following  from  the  Eev.  Heman  L.  Yaill,  of  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  is  selected,  as  affording  an  interesting 
illustration  of  the  abiding  remembrance  in  which 
he  was  held  in  the  home  of  his  childhood. 

"  Litchfield,  Connecticut, 

May  24, 1858. 

"  JBenj.  Thompson,  Esq. 

"  My  Dear  Sir. — The  tidings  that  the  venerable  Ethan  Osborn 
has  at  length  passed  away,  came  somehow  very  unexpectedly  to 
me,  for,  notwithstanding  his  great  age  and  consequent  feebleness, 
I  had  in  a  manner  hoped,  and  almost  believed,  that  he  might  be 
permitted  to  remain  on  earth  a  little  longer,  at  least  till  the  round 


HOW  HE  USED  TO  SING.  67 

hundred  of  his  years  should  have  been  complete.  I  wrote  on  the 
5th  instant,  to  one  of  the  Professors  in  Dartmouth  College,  and 
expressed  my  hopes  as  above  stated,  not  knowing  at  that  date, 
that  our  venerated  friend  who  had  so  long  '  walked  with  God,' 
had  been  already  translated.  I  also  sent,  at  the  same  time,  to 
the  Faculty  of  the  college,  some  historical  sketches  of  the  four 
Osborns,  his  cousins,  who  were  educated  at  Dartmouth,  and  a 
brief  notice  concerning  himself  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Vaill— his 
cousin,  for  more  than  fifty  years  pastor  of  the  church  in  Hadlyme, 
Conn.  These  six  young  men,  born  and  reared  through  their  youth, 
in  the  same  neighborhood,  all  went  within  a  few  years  of  each 
other,  to  the  same  college ;  and  as  its  next  Triennial  Catalogue 
will  show,  have  now  all  gone  to  the  eternal  world. 

"  Your  friend  Ethan  never  received,  nor  sought  for,  the  secondy 
or  master's  degree  from  college;  but  he  did  receive  from  all  the 
friends  of  Christ  who  knew  him,  a  nobler  honor  than  earthly  uni- 
versities can  give— the  honor  of  being  '  a  good  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ'—'  a  man  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost :'  and  now  be- 
yond all  this,  he  has  received  that  last  and  highest  degree,  such 
as  the  Lord  himself  confers,  when  he  calls  to  his  faithful  and 
worn  out  servants,  who  have  finished  their  course,  saying,  '  Come 
up  hither !' 

I  am  now  myself  an  old  man,  of  upwards  of  three-score ;  but  I 
remember  with  pleasure,  far  back  to  the  days  of  my  earliest 
childhood,  the  visits  of  our  departed  friend  and  father  to  the  old 
homestead  where  he  was  born  ;  and  the  calls  he  was  wont  to 
make  on  the  families  in  the  neighborhood.  I  well  remember  how 
he  used  to  preach,  and  how  he  used  to  converse — grave  and 
serious  always— and  yet  always  genial  and  attractive.  Yes,  and 
I  remember  how  in  the  little  social  religious  meetings,  held 
here,  because  lie  was  here,  how  he  used  to  sing ;  that  high,  yet 
soft  and  sweet  tenor  voice,  in  the  Psalm  89th  of  Dr.  Watts,  '  With 
reverence  let  the  saints  appear,'  &c.,  sung  to  the  tune  '  Virginia.' 
But  though  this  good  old  tune  is  now  a  thing  of  the  past,  that 
same  89th  Psalm,  as  David  wrote  it  for  'Ethan  the  Ezrahite' 
remains ;  and  the  Ethan  of  ancient  time,  and  our  Ethan  the 
*  Saint  of  God'  may  now  be  singing  the  same  words, '  I  will  sing 


68  FUNERAL  SERVICES. 

of  the  mercies  of  the  Lord  forever/  members  of  the  same  choir, 
and  worshipping  before  the  same  throne.  Praying  that  we  may 
all  be  the  true  and  faithful  friends  of  Jesus  Christ,  while  here  on 
earth  ;  and  be  at  length  all  welcomed  home  to  the  Heaven  where 
they  all  sing,  I  remain, 

"Yours  very  respectfully  and  truly, 

"Herman  L.  Vaill." 

"Where  cleatli  lias  been,  there  must  be  a  funeral. 
The  attendance,  the  expression  of  the  countenances 
of  the  assembly,  and  the  general  cast  of  the  services 
at  the  obsequies  of  the  departed,  are  sometimes  good 
indications  of  the  estimate  jDlaced  upon  them  while 
living.  Probably  the  county  of  Cumberland  was 
never  before  the  scene  of  a  funeral  where  people  as- 
sembled in  such  a  throng,  and  where  the  assembled 
throng  came,  attended,  and  returned  under  liiore 
profound  impressions. 

Father  Osborn's  mortal  remains  were  interred 
with  the  customary  Christian  services,  on  Thursday, 
the  fifth  day  after  his  death.  Several  well  written 
notices  of  the  event  were  published  in  the  local  pa- 
pers, and  in  Philadelphia.  One  from  the  Bridgeton 
Chronicle,  is  selected  for  insertion  here,  in  preference 
to  those  in  the  religious  papers,  only  as  coming  from 
a  secular  publication,  it  may  better  show  the  hold  of 
our  departed  father  upon  the  affections  of  the  people 
at  large. 

"FUNERAL  OF  REV.  ETHAN  OSBORN. 

"  Thursday,  May  Gth,  1858,  was  a  great  day  in  Fairfield.  The 
whole  township  seemed  awake  for  some  great  gathering.  There 
was  to  be  a  funeral,  but  not  a  time  of  great  mourning.     There  had 


THE  ASSEMBLY.  69 

been  no  untimely  frosts  to  blast  the  ties  of  blood  and  friendship, 
but  one  had  come  to  his  grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of 
corn  Cometh  in  his  season.  *  Father  Osborn,'  the  man  longest 
and  best  known,  and  best  beloved,  had  died  among  the  people  of 
his  first  choice,  and  '  devout  men'  were  about  to  carry  him  to 
burial. 

"  We  started  from  Bridgeton  with  another  carriage  or  two,  but 
before  arriving  at  Fairton,  we  found  we  were  in  company  with  a 
dozen,  which  was  increased  to  between  twenty  and  thirty  after 
we  had  passed  through  the  town. 

*'  In  Fairton,  business  was  hushed — 

'  No  busy  hum, 
Nor  sound  of  anvil,  nor  of  plane  Avas  heard, 
But  peace  and  holy  quiet  reigned  around.' 

"The  faces  and  dress  of  the  inhabitants  wore  a  Sunday-like  as- 
pect, and  their  ways  were  turned  toward  the  'Old  Scone  Church/ 
The  meeting  at  the  house  was  at  10  o'clock,  and  in  more  than 
half  an  hour  after,  the  procession  arrived,  with  the  body,  at  the 
church.  But  long  before  this — excepting  the  seats  reserved — the 
building  was  filled  from  the  neighboring  country  around.  Bridge- 
ton,  Greenwich,  Hopewell,  Deerfield,  Pittsgrove,  Millville  and 
Newport,  were  all  represented  and  nearly  250  carriages  were  on 
the  ground.  Hundreds  remained  outside  upon  temporary  seats 
in  front  of  the  church,  or  standing  at  the  side  windows.  There 
would  have  been  hundreds  more  if  the  early  morning  had  been 
tiuspicious  and  accommodations  prepared.  Seventeen  ministers 
were  present,  mostly  occupying  the  platform  and  pulpit.  After 
the  hearse  had  been  raised  to  the  platform,  the  Rev.  B.  B. 
Hotchkin  stated  that  the  last  time  our  lamented  Friend  and 
Father  sat  at  the  table,  he  spontaneously  broke  forth  in  singing 
the  last  three  stanzas  of  the  17th  Psalm,  to  the  tune  of  Glasgow, 

'This  life's  a  dream,  an  empty  show,'  &c., 

which  was  accordingly  sung  by  the  congregation,  to  the  same 
tune,  led  by  Mr.  Williams. 

"Rev.  Mr.  Cattell,  of  Deerfield,  read  from  the  second  chapter  of 
2  Kings.     'And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Lord  would  take 


70  SERVICES  IN  THE  CHURCH. 

up  Elijah  into  heaven/ — following  with  prayer.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Ilotchkin  then  arose  and  stated  that  it  had  been  deputed  to  him, 
as  eldest  son  in  the  pastoral  office  to  the  venerated  dead,  to  take 
the  principal  part  in  the  services,  and  although  he  had  but  little 
time  for  preparation,  with  such  an  inspiring  theme,  he  could  plead 
no  apology.  His  text  was  in  the  12th  verse  of  the  12th  chapter, 
of  2  Kings, — '  My  Father,  my  Father,  the  chariot  of  Israel  and 
the  horsemen  thereof.' 

[The  synopsis  of  tlie  discourse,  as  here  given,  is 
omitted,  all  its  particulars  being  reproduced  in  the 
present  Memorial.] 

"The  2d,  3d,  and  4th  stanzas  of  the  623d  hymn  were  then  sung. 

'  Servant  of  God,  well  done  ; 
Kest  from  thy  loved  employ  ; 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 
Enter  thy  master's  joy. 

'  The  voice  at  midnight  came, 

He  started  tip  to  hear ; 
A  mortal  arrow  pierced  his  frame, 

He  fell — but. felt  no  fear. 

'  Tranquil  amidst  alarm, 

It  found  him  on  the  field, 
A  veteran  slumbering  on  his  arms 

Beneath  his  red  cross  shield.' 

*'Pvev.  Dr.  Kollock,  of  Greenwich,  made  a  short  and  interesting 
address  from  these  words :  '  And  when  they  had  taken  up  the 
body  and  buried  it,  they  went  and  told  Jesus.'  He  was  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cattell  of  Deerfield,  who  feelingly  called  to  the 
minds  of  his  hearers,  the  eternal  themes,  which  the  voice  now 
hushed  in  silence  before  them,  had  so  often  sounded  in  their  ears. 
The  Rev  Mr.  Boggs,  of  Fairton,  read  the  Testimonial  of  the  Pas- 
toral Association  of  Philadelphia,  to  the  churches  of  Fairton  and 
Cedarville.  The  congregation  then  sang  the  1st,  3d  and  4th 
stanzas  of  the  624th  hymn 

'  Why  do  we  mourn  departed  friends.' 


EARTH  TO  EARTH — DUST  TO  DUST.        71 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  Gillette,  of  Shiloh,  made  the  concluding  prayer 
in  the  church.  After  which  the  body  was  removed  to  the  front 
of  the  church,  that  all  might  take  a  last  lingering  look  at  all  that 
was  mortal  of  Father  Osborn. 

"At  the  grave,  the  Rev.  S.  Y.  Monroe,  gave  out  the  beautiful 
hymn 

'  Unveil  thy  bosom  faithful  tomb, 

Take  this  new  treasure  to  thy  trust, 
And  give  these  sacred  relics  room 
To  slumber  in  the  silent  dust.' 

"Mr.  Monroe  then  closed  these  interesting  services  by  exclaim- 
ing, '  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end 
of  that  man  is  peace ;'  and  pronounced  the  Benediction.  Thus 
ended  probably  the  largest  and  most  interesting  funeral  ever  at- 
tended in  our  country.  Who  can  estimate  the  good  done  by  the 
life  of  such  a  man  !  What  a  living  epistle  !  From  the  exhibi- 
tion of  Christianity,  as  seen  in  him,  influences  have  emanated, 
which,  like  dews  and  showers,  have  distilled  upon  generations. 
And  it  is  not  improbable  that  his  life  and  glorified  death  have 
given  as  sweet  a  savor  to  religion  as  his  inculcation  from  the 
Pulpit.^' 


PABT  IV. 

GENERAL  VIEWS  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 

We  have  followed  tlie  career  of  Fatlier  Osborn,  in 
consecutive  order,  from  his  entrance  upon  the  mor- 
tal to  the  immortal  life.  Some  remarks  upon  his 
official  and  personal  character,  illustrated  from  his 
discourses  and  family  correspondence,  which  were 
not  convenient  for  chronological  arrangement,  have 
been  reserved  for  this  place. 

The  first  impressions  of  a  stranger  making  his  ac- 
quaintance, w^ould  be  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of 
a  calm,  equable  Christian  of  a  gentle  heart,  and  whose 
life  was  running  like  an  even  spun  thread — a  plain, 
common  sense  thinker,  and  an  earnest  friend  of 
Christ.  It  is  true,  further  intimacy  would  confirm 
these  views,  but  it  would  reveal  some  unexpected 
traits,  such  as  deep,  native  shrewdness,  a  tact  for  the 
administration  of  affairs  that  was  peculiarly  his  ow^n, 
and  a  prudence  of  manner  which  seemed  almost 
feeble,  but  which  was  found  in  the  end  to  grasp  some 
bold  results.  I  have  often  noticed  with  surprise  how, 
with  the  least  appearance  of  doing  it,  he  would  read 
men  through  and  through,  and  how,  in  a  few  simple 
words,  almost  pointless  to  one  who  did  not  compre- 
hend their  drift,  he  would  make  the  power  of  rebuke 
felt  in  exactly  the  place  wdiich  he  wished  to  reach. 

The  portraiture  of  Father  Osborn  as  a  preacher, 


CHARGE  TO  A  PASTOR.  73 

he  Shall  draw  for  himself.  I  have  obtained  from 
among  his  manuscripts  what  is  labeled,  "A  Charge 
delivered  at  Mr.  Edwards'  Ordination."  There  is  no 
information  accompanying  it  respecting  the  tmre  or 
place  of  this  ordination.  It  was  probably  at  Cape 
May,  near  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  In 
a  letter  to  his  brother,  June  1809,  he  mentions  Mr. 
Edwards  as  the  pastor  at  Cape  May.  From  this 
char-e  the  reader  can  learn  his  theory  of  the  preach- 
ino-  and  conduct  of  a  Christian  pastor,  and  there  is 
no'lack  of  living  witnesses  that  what  he  regarded  as 
a  good  theory,  was  with  him  a  law  of  performance. 

"DeaeBrother,-You  are  now,  mth  your  own  consent,  sol- 
emnly set  apart  to  take  part  with  us  in  the  mm.stry  of  the  gos- 
pel You  have  devoted  yourself  to  a  most  weighty  and  usefu 
employment.  See  that  you  undertake  it  from  right  moUves,  and 
ulfilJt  in  such  a  manner  .as  to  meet  with  the  approbation  of 
your  Master  and  Judge.  '  Take  heed  unto  thyself  and  unto  the 
doctrine'  Let  thy  preaching  and  example  so  correspond  with 
f:  r  tier,  and  wfth  the  gospel,  as  to  n^tually  strengt  en  and 
enforce  each  other's  influence.  Consider  thyself  a  worker  together 
with  God,  employed  by  him,  and  self-devoted  to  the  bmld:ng-«p 
of  his  churci  among  men.  Therefore  be  f'ke  md.fferent  to 
human  censure  or  applause.  Let  the  Word  of  God  be  the  rule  of 
your  preaching,  his  approbation  your  most  emuUt.ve  endeavor, 
and  his  glory  in  the  edification  of  his  church,  your  highest  end. 
Endeavor  so  to  vary  your  subjects  and  discourses,  as  to  su.t  the 
various  characters  and  cases  of  your  hearers.  Deal  out  to  every 
•one  a  portion  in  due  season.  ,   „     ,       •      ,, 

"  Preach  the  law  and  preach  the  gospel.  Preach  the  law  in  all 
its  strictness  and  spirituality,  as  an  eternal  rule  of  right,  bmdmg 
on  every  moral  agent,  and  as  covering  all  the  exercises  of  the 
mind  as  well  as  outward  actions,  requiring  perfect  and  perpetual 


74  WHAT  A  PREACHER  SHOULD  BE. 

obedience  in  every  act,  word  and  thought,  on  pain  of  condemna- 
tion. And  make  close  application  to  the  conscience  for  the  con- 
viction of  impenitent  sinners,  to  make  them  duly  sensible  of  their 
sin,  and  to  make  them  feel  as  if  standing  in  the  day  of  judgment. 

"  But  not  confining  yourself  to  the  law,  preach  the  gospel.  Hold 
up  the  blessed  remedy  it  provides  for  guilty,  pe/ishing  sinners. 
Preach  Christ  and  him  crucified,  in  all  his  fullness  and  freeness  to 
save.  Preach  him  in  all  his  offices  and  sacred  characters,  as  the 
way  and  the  only  way  to  the  Father,  through  whom  alone  we  can 
be  redeemed  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  and  obtain  salvation. 
Show  his  ability  and  willingness  to  save  all  who  come  to  him  be- 
lieving, and  also  the  necessity  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  influence  to  en- 
able and  dispose  them  to  come  believing.  Show  the  happy  con- 
sequences of  belief,  and  the  fatal  consequences  of  resisting  the 
Spirit's  influence  and  remaining  in  a  state  of  impenitency  and  un- 
belief. Show  the  indispensable  duty  of  all  to  repent  and  believe, 
and  the  increasing  guilt  and  just  condemnation  of  such  as  persist 
in  the  neglect  of  it. 

'*  Do  not  confine  yourself  to  general  doctrine  and  truths.  De- 
scend frequently  to  particulars,  that  so  you  may  touch  the  par- 
ticular cases  of  your  difierept  hearers,  whose  different  cases  study 
to  know,  that  you  may  be  able  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of  truth, 
giving  to  each  one  according  to  his  respective  case.  In  a  word, 
declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God  as  a  faithful  ambassador  of 
Christ,  and  keep  back  nothing  that  may  be  profitable  for  the 
people  to  hear  and  know. 

"  And  let  your  practice  correspond  with  your  preaching,  that 
it  may  appear  you  do  believe  and  feel  the  influence  of  those  truths 
which  you  preach  to  others.  Let  your  conversation  be  as  becometh 
the  gospel.  Be  an  ensample  to  the  flock  among  which  you  are 
made  an  overseer,  *  showing  thyself  a  pattern  of  good  works,  that 
he  that  is  of  the  contrary  part  may  be  ashamed,  having  no  evil . 
thing  to  say  of  you.' 

"  And  should  you  have  occasion  to  contend  against  heresies,  be 
zealous  yet  temperate,  *  in  meekness  instructing  those  that  oppose 
themselves,  if  God,  pcradventure,  will  give  them  repentance  to  the 
acknowledging  of  the  truth.'     In  a  word,  let  the  life  of  our  bless- 


WHAT  THE  PREACHER  WAS.  75 

ed  Saviour  be  the  pattern  of  your  deportment,  conversation  and 
life,  that  your  light  may  shine  before  men,  and  your  example  may 
reconmiend  to  them  the  heavenly  religion  which  you  preach. 
As  you  have  time  and  opportunity,  visit  the  sick  and  such  as  are 
awakened  or  in  distress,  and  administer  to  them  such  instruction 
and  counsel  as  their  cases  seem  to  require. 

"  Pay  a  proper  attention  to  the  discipline  of  the  church  to  puri- 
fy and  build  it  up.  And  as  the  success  of  your  ministerial  la- 
bors depends  on  the  efficacious  influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit  ac- 
companying them,  accustom  yourself  to  secret  prayer,  and  exhort 
your  people  to  do  the  same,  as  the  means  which  has  the  most 
direct  tendency  to  keep  up  the  life  of  religion  in  the  soul,  and  to 
draw  down  the  blessing  of  heaven  upon  your  ministry. 

"And  in  all  things  approve  thyself  a  minister  of  God,  in  much 
patience  and  perseverance  in  the  blessed  work  to  which  thou  hast 
devoted  thyself.  '  Preach  the  word :  be  instant  in  season,  out  of 
season ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long  suffering  and  doc- 
trine.^ '  Watch  for  souls  as  one  who  must  give  account,  that  thou 
mayest  do  it  with  joy  and  not  with  grief.^  '  I  charge  thee  before 
God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that  thou 
observe  these  things.'  Be  faithful  to  thy  Lord  until  death,  and 
he  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life." 

In  this  charge  we  have  Father  Osborn's  ideal  of 
a  gospel  preacher.  We  turn  next  to  his  effort  to 
give  Ideality  to  this  ideal,  in  his  own  person.  I  quote 
again  from  his  autobiographical  discourses.  The 
text  it  will  be  recollected,  is,  "Ye  know  *  *  *  after 
what  manner  I  have  been  with  you,"  &c. 

"  Ye  also  know  after  what  manner  I  have  varied  my  subjects 
of  discourse.  Well  knowing  from  mine  own  experience,  and  from 
the  remarks  of  others,  that  the  people  wish  to  hear  discourses  on 
various  subjects,  and  observing  how  much  sameness  there  is  in 


76  SUITING  THE  STYLE  TO  THE  END. 

some  preachers,  I  have  aimed  to  discourse  on  many  different  sub- 
jects. This  I  have  done  with  a  view  of  entertaining  the  people, 
not  only  with  an  agreeable,  but  also  a  profitable  variety.  How 
far  I  have  succeeded  in  this  endeavor,  you  can  judge. 

"  But  after  several  years,  I  was  convinced  that  in  trying  to 
shun  one  error,  I  had  run  into  another ;  that  I  had  spent  too 
much  time  on  some  points  less  interesting,  and  had  dwelt  too 
little  on  others  which  are  of  vital  importance.  For  although  the 
parts  of  religion  are  numerous,  yet  those  which  relate  to  expe- 
rience and  practice,  are  certainly  the  most  essential  and  interest- 
ing, and  should  therefore  be  most  frequently  brought  into  view. 
¥r  ¥r  *  ^  Yov  a  time,  my  aim  and  labor  Avas  to  find  out  new 
subjects  and  matter,  but  for  many  years  past,  the  chief  difficulty 
has  been  to  bring  forward  subjects  in  due  season.  Sometimes 
several  things  seemed  to  demand  an  immediate  hearing,  and  I 
have  to  bring  them  forward,  one  after  another,  as  they  seem  to  be 
most  urgent. 

"  You  know  after  what  manner  of  style  I  have  preached  to 
you — that  it  has  been  a  simple  and  plain  style.  Though  I  might 
have  used  a  more  elegant,  learned,  or  sublime  style,  yet  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  follow  the  example  of  Paul  in  speaking  to 
you  with  great  plainness  of  speech.  For  the  design  of  preaching 
is  to  convey  ideas,  and  give  instruction  and  knowledge  to  the 
hearer.  But  if  my  language  is  above  the  understanding  of  many 
hearers,  I  might  as  well  speak  to  them  in  Greek  or  Hebrew.  And, 
therefore,  to  speak  the  truth  has  been  ray  first  object,  and  next 
to  speak  it  in  such  language  as  to  be  intelligible  or  easily  under- 
stood. I  have  been  all  along  sensible  that  by  using  such  a  plain 
style,  I  have  sacrificed  my  reputation  for  learning.  But  that  is 
a  matter  of  little  consequence.  I  ought  not  to  care  whether  I 
am  thought  learned  or  ignorant,  if  I  can  but  promote  your  Chris- 
tian knowledge  and  be  a  helper  of  your  faith." 

There  spoke  our  blessed  Father  Osborn !  "  ISTo 
matter  for  my  reputation  as  a  speaker,  if  I  can  only 


APPEARANCE  IN  THE  PULPIT. 


77 


be  of  good  to  your  soul !"     The   reader  wlio  lias 
been  accustomed  to  hear  him,  can  easily  supply  the 
rest  from  his  own  recollections.      Recall   in  your 
mind  the  slender  and  lithe  form  standing  in  the 
lofty  eagle's  nest  of  a  pulpit,  under  the  ''  sounding 
board,"  in  the  Old  Stone  Church,  bending  over  the 
congregation,  with  his  manuscript  (to  which,  how- 
ever, he  is  but  loosely  confined,)  held  before  his  face 
with  one  hand,  while  the  other  is  stretched  over  the 
people :  in  imagination  listen  again  to  the  flow  of 
that  mellow,  earnest  voice,  but  shghtly  modulated, 
except  as  it  occasionally  rises  to  a  majesty  of  utter- 
ance, or  breaks  under  the  fullness  of  emotion,  yet 
never  aspiring  to  anything  higher  than  simplicity  of 
speech,  and  you  have  a  vivid  likeness  of  Father  Os- 
born  as  a  preacher. 

The  trait  of  earnestness  in  delivery  abode  with 
him  to  the  last.  When  he  was  so  far  enfeebled  by 
years  that  it  was  painful  to  witness  his  embarrass- 
ment in  some  other  parts  of  service,  let  him.  once 
get  out  his  subject  and  feel  himself  settled  in  the 
harness,  and  the  hearer  was  soon  made  conscious 
that  all  was  right — the  old  minister  was  at  home. 
"Does  the  old  man  fail  in  the  pulpit?"  was  the 
question  which  one  of  his  absent  friends  asked  of  a 
Fairfield  gentleman  in  1852.  The  reply  was,  "He 
fails  among  the  hymns  and  chapters,  but  get  him 
on  his  preaching  legs,  and  he  goes  like  a  house  a 
fire." 

Between  himself  and  his  constitutional  associates 


78  HIS  INTERCOURSE  WITH 

in  tlie  government  of  the  church,  the  session,*  great 
corclialitj  seems  in  general  to  have  existed.  Speak- 
ing of  the  commencement  of  his  pastoral  adminis- 
tration, he  says — 

"  I  was  favored  with  a  session  of  able  and  pious  men,  and 
never  shall  I  forget  the  first  prayer  meeting,  in  which  they  as- 
sisted me  in  this  house.  They  prayed  with  the  spirit,  and  my 
mind  was  so  sensibly  afiected,  that  perhaps  I  could  not  refrain 
from  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy.  And  respecting  the  session  ever 
since,  the  Lord  has  highly  favored  me  and  the  church." 

It  was  common  for  him,  in  his  later  years,  to  speak 
in  pleasant  terms  of  those  who  had  shared  with  him 
the  governmental  administration  of  the  church. 
One  circumstance  which  I  had  never  before  heard, 
and  which  I  presume  would  otherwise  have  been 


*  From  the  time  of  his  settlement  to  his  dismission,  the  following 

persons  had  seats  in  the  session. 

Eleazer  Smith,  Jeremiah  Nixon, 

Ephraim  Harris,  John  Bower, 

Levi  Stratton,  John  T.  Hampton, 

Amos  Westcott,  Jedediah  Ogden, 

Jeremiah  Harris,  William  Bateman, 

Norton  Lawrence,  Joseph  Ogden, 

Thomas  Burch,  Thomas  Harris, 

Henry  Howell,  Daniel  Burt, 

John  Howell,  Ephraim  Westcott, 

Nathaniel  Diaraent,  Bergen  Bateman, 

Asa  Fish,  Ephraim  H.  Whiticar, 

Nathaniel  Howell,  John  Holmes. 
Only  five  of  this  number  were  living  at  the  time  of  his  death.     By 

reading  across  the  columns  above,  the  names  appear  in  the  order  of 

their  election. 


HIS  OFFICIAL  ASSOCIATES.  79 

lost  from  the  knowledge  of  men,  is  presented  in  his 
iiutobiographical  sermons. 

•*  After  a  few  years,  [from  the  date  of  his  settlement,]  the  ses- 
sion on  some  accounts  were  dissatisfied  with  me,  and  conversed 
with  me  on  the  subject  of  their  complaints.  Whether  I  gave 
them  any  degree  of  satisfaction,  or  not,  there  was  no  further  al- 
tercation between  us.  Believing  that  they  did  what  they  thought 
was  their  duty,  I  cherished  no  ill  will  toward  them.  And  ever 
since,  my  friendly  attachment  to  the  session  and  church  has  been 
growing  stronger.     May  our  friendship  be  immortal  I" 

The  fancy  of  those  of  us  who  were  intimate  wdth 
Father  Osborn,  can  readily  supply  the  meagreness 
of  the  account  of  that  interview  with  the  session. 
They  doubtless  found  him  open  to  conviction.  If 
he  saw  they  had  just  cause  of  complaint,  he  frankly 
acknowledged  it,  and  rendered  all  reasonable  satis- 
faction. But  if  he  regarded  his  own  position  as 
right,  he  certainly  said  so,  and  he  said  it  in  such  a  way 
that  we  may  be  sure  "  there  was  no  further  alterca- 
tion" in  the  matter. 

It  is  true  he  was  a  man  of  much  humility.  We 
have  seen  this  in  the  spirit  in  w^hich  he  speaks  of 
the  success  of  his  ministerial  labors.  Extracts  from 
other  sermons  and  from  his  correspondence,  might 
be  given  in  further  illustration.  Two  of  the  marked 
and  often  mentioned  traits  of  his  character  were 
humbleness  and  meekness.  But  he  had  no  mawkish 
affection  of  modesty.  He  knew  how  to  appreciate 
his  position,  and  in  the  sight  of  men,  to  respect  him- 
self. "  If  you  thought,"  he  says  in  one  of  his  ser- 
mons, "that  I  intend  to  do  my  duty,  you  thought 


80  TEMPER — ONCE  AND  NOW. 

riglit.  Respecting  my  aims,  I  have  like  Paul,  lived 
in  all  good  conscience  before  God,  until  this  day. 
*  *  *  *  You  will  consider  that  in  choosing  the 
subject  of  a  discourse,  I  have  to  judge  alone.  I 
have  no  human  counsellor,  no  earthly  friend  to  con- 
sult how  I  shall  proceed,  or  what  I  had  better  say. 
Single  and  alone  I  have  to  judge  for  myself,  to  be 
responsible  for  my  judgment,  and  bear  the  burden 
of  my  labor." 

The  prevalent  gentleness  of  his  temper  is  a  more 
noticeable  trait,  from  the  fact  that  it  appears  to  have 
been  one  of  the  triumphs  of  grace  within  him.  He 
often  spoke  of  his  habitual  mildness  as  a  thing  very 
foreio;n  to  his  natural  constitution.  In  one  of  the 
sermons  before  me,  he  says : — 

"  If  I  have  followed  Paul's  counsel  to  let  my  moderation  be 
known  to  all  men,  I  have  not  acted  out  my  natural  temper.  One 
of  my  friends  observed  to  me,  '  You  are  a  moderate  man/ 
Thought  I,  you  do  not  know  what  I  am  made  of.  Though  I  wish 
to  follow  the  aforesaid  counsel,  still  my  natural  constitution  is 
fire  and  thunder.  Ye  avaricious  misers  who  grind  the  faces  of 
the  poor,  I  would  trample  you  under  foot  and  thrust  you  out  of 
the  world.  Ye  cruel  and  tyrannical  oppressors,  I  would  blast 
you  with  the  lightnings  of  Heaven.  Y^e  profane  swearers, 
drunkards  and  liars,  I  would  strike  you  through  with  a  thunder- 
bolt. That  is  the  *  moderation'  of  my  natural  constitution.  If 
by  the  aid  of  reason  and  religion,  I  have  been  enabled  to  confine 
it  within  proper  limits,  or  give  it  a  right  direction,  it  is  '  by 
the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  ara,^  and  I  have  reason  to  thank 
him  if  'his  grace  which  was  bestowed  upon  me,  was  not  in  vain.' " 

Throughout  his  life,  an  occasional  scintillation 
from   that  pent  "fire  and   thunder"   betrayed   the 


REGARD  FOR  THE  POOR.  81 

truth  of  his  faithful  judgment  of  himself.  But  it 
gave  a  brighter  reflection  from  his  grace,  that  it  so 
ahoundecl  over  the  corrupt  nature  that  extraordinary 
mildness  was  generally  supposed  to  belong  to  his 
native  temper.  Yes,  gentle  father,  we  will  blend  our 
thanksgivings  with  thine,  that  the  grace  bestowed 
upon  thee  was  not  in  vain  ! 

N"o  one  acquainted  with  him  will  doubt  that  if  he 
ventured  an  imprecation  upon  any  human  being, 
none  would  sooner  come  in  for  it  than  those  "  who 
grind  the  faces  of  the  poor."  i^othing  could  sooner 
rouse  his  sympathies  than  the  cry  of  the  needy. 
This  was  with  him  an  inherited  susceptibilit}^, 
quickened  also,  like  the  gift  of  young  Timoth}^,  by 
the  counsels  of  his  piother.  He  has  told  us  that  her 
first  charge  to  him,  on  his  assuming  the  care  of  a 
church,  was — ^'Be  kind  to  the  poor."  He  was 
located  in  a  community  where  people  are  not  severe- 
ly pressed  with  calls  for  the  relief  of  poverty  imme- 
diately around  them.  There  is  li-ttle  known  in 
Fairfield  of  either  of  the  extremes  of  overgrown  opu- 
lence or  biting  penury.  In  their  pecuniary  condi- 
tion, the  families  are  generally  well. off,  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  term.  But  there  have  been  periods  in 
the  history  of  his  pastorate  here,  which  brought  out 
the  temper  of  those  who  possessed  any  means  of 
helping  the  distressed.  He  has  described  one  such 
season  in  a  letter  to  his  brother  in  Litchfield,  dated 
June  20,  1817. 

"  Such  difficult  and  distressing  times,  the  oldest  man  living 
never  saw.     For  weeks  and  months  past,  there  have  been  con- 


82  PRACTICAL  BENEVOLENCE.     _ 

stant  vendues  of  household  goods  and  other  property,  by  the 
sheriff  and  constables,  for  less  than  half  their  value ;  sometimes 
less  than  a  third  or  quarter.  I  was  told  of  a  horse  lately  bought 
at  vendue,  for  one  dollar,  by  a  man  who  said  he  would  not  take 
thirty  for  him.  Many  families  not  long  ago  in  independent  or 
comfortable  circumstances,  have  been  sold  out,  and  reduced  to 
beggary  and  want.  The  paupers  increase.  People  are  tired  of 
going  to  vendues.  Many  have  no  ready  money  to  pay  for  arti- 
cles, and  to  see  one  family  after  another  stripped  of  food  and 
clothing,  is  enough  to  sicken  and  draw  tears  from  a  person  of  any 
feeling.     May  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  them !" 

I  liave  no  record  of  his  personal  sacrifices  in  aid 
of  the  distressed  at  that  time,  but  I  find  this  sentence 
in  a  sermon  preached  a  few  years  afterward. 

"  If  I  am  a  friend  to  the  poor,  or  partial  in  their  favor,  you 
will  not  wonder  at  it.  If  I  was  not  their  friend,  after  having  re- 
ceived so  many  tokens  of  their  friendship,  I  should  be  a  monster 
of  ingratitude.  May  the  Lord  bless  them  with  every  needful 
good,  making  them  rich  in  faith  and  heirs  to  his  heavenly 
kingdom  V 

But  we  need  no  written  record  of  his  habits  of 
practical  benevolence,  either  toAvard  the  children  of 
want,  or  the  institutions  for  the  advancement  of  re- 
ligion. His  living  epistles  are  all  around  him.  The 
cause  of  the  poor  and  the  support  of  religious  enter- 
prises, were  all  his  life  brought  prominently  into  the 
very  methodical  manner  in  which  he  managed  his 
pecuniary  affairs.  His  salary  never  exceeded  what 
is  -regarded  as  a  living  mark ;  indeed  many  would 
say  it  was  never  up  to  it.  He  began  his  service  of 
the  congregation,  with  a  salary  of  XlOO,  equivalent 
to  $2Q6M,  and  the  use  of  a  parsonage.     In  a  few 


PAYING  HIS  SALARY.  83 

years  it  was  raised  to  f  300.00.  In  1807,  Laving  pre- 
viously given  up  the  parsonage,  his  salary  was  rais- 
ed to  ^400.00.  In  1809,  it  was  further  raised  to 
$450.00,  and  in  1812,  to  $500.00,  at  which  last  mark 
it  remained  until  the  settlement  of  a  colleague  in 
1836,  when  it  was  reduced  to  $300.00.  When  he 
was  again  left  alone  in  the  pastorate,  the  division  of 
the  church  had  so  weakened  its  pecuniary  ahility, 
that  no  attempt  was  made  to  increase  his  compensa- 
tion. At  his  dismission,  he  received  the  guaranty 
of  an  annual  payment  of  $100.00  during  his  natural 
life.  Although  this  salary  was  his  main  means  of 
support,  still  under  his  careful  management,  a  small 
^property  was  eventually  secured  from  it. 

But  he  was  accustomed  to  say  that  he  must  pay 
his  salary  also.  Accordingly  he  set  apart  from  it,  an 
annual  stipend  for  widows  in  straitened  circumstan- 
ces. He  kept  a  list  of  these  beneficiaries,  and  when 
death  or  any  other  circumstance,  removed  one  from 
the  list,  another  was  sought  out  to  fill  the  place. 
One  half  of  his  marriage  fees  was  sacredly  devoted 
to  charitable  purposes.  How  much  was  realized  from 
this,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that  in  the  course 
of  his  ministry,  he  solemnized  between  seven  and 
eight  hundred  marriages.*  During  my  own  pastoral 
administration  in  Fairfield,  in  our  collections  for  be- 
nevolent objects,  his  figures  uniformly  took  the  lead 
in  magnitude,  and  such  I  was  informed,  had  long 
previously  been  the  case.  Indeed  the  disparity  be- 
tween his  contributions  and  those  of  others,  must 

*  In  1846,  the  record  has  725. 


84  FAITH  AND  CALCULATION. 

sometimes  liave  been  quite  too  striking ;  certainly 
so,  if  there  is  no  slip  of  the  pen  in  this  sentence 
which  I  find  in  a  letter  to  his  relative  in  Litchfield, 
under  date  of  July  10,  1844, — ''  We  took  up  a  col- 
lection on  Celebration  Day,  of  $5.00,  to  which  I  have 
added  $50.00,  and  enclosed  it  in  a  letter  directed  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Colonization  Society  in  Wash- 
ington city."  Toward  this  Society,  he  cherished  a 
peculiarly  warm  attachment.  His  usual  (contribution 
to  it  was  $10.00  at  a  time. 

For  his  short  service  in  the  army,  he  obtained  in 
his  old  age,  a  small  pension.  Although  there  was 
then  every  prospect  that  he  would  be  obliged  to 
draw  upon  the  substance  of  his  little  property  for 
the  support  of  his  declining  years,  still  with  his 
habitual  trust  in  God,  he  divided  all  but  $10.00  of 
this  pension  between  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  the  Philadelphia 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Colonization 
Society. 

Let  it  not  be  thought,  however,  that  his  faith  in 
God  as  a  provider  for  his  old  age,  was  a' reckless  or 
improvident  trust.  The  following  extract  from  a 
letter,  written  to  his  nephew,  Myron  Osborn,  shortly 
after  his  dismission,  will  show  that  there  was  calcu- 
lation as  well  as  faith  in  the  matter. 

"Perhaps  I  mentioned  to  your  father  that  the  terms  on  Avhich 
I  was  dismissed  were,  that  the  congregation  should  continue  to 
me  the  annual  payment  of  one  hundred  dollars.  This  is  ratified 
by  a  written  agreement.  I  feci  not  the  least  uneasiness  about  a 
comfortable  living,  for  if  my  income  is  not  enough,  I  can  easily 
lean  on  my  (nvn  resources.     Tt  is  calculated  that  the  growth  of 


WAITING  FOR  THE  PENSION.  85 

my  wood  land,  (one  hundred  and  sixty  or  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres,)  is  as  much  as  fifty  or  sixty  cords  every  year.  All  that  I 
have  sold,  (several.hundred  cords,)  I  have  sold  for  $2.00  a  cord, 
on  the  stump.  And  the  people  would  not  let  me  suffer,  for  they 
have  ever  been  kind  and  friendly,  and  done  for  me  all  that  I 
asked  of  them,  so  that  I  ought  to  love  them  and  pray  for  them  as 
long  as  I  live.  You  see  that  I  linger  on  this  subject,  as  if  I  could 
not  leave  it.  And  truly  I  feel  interested  in  it  and  affected  with 
it.  I  ought  to  be  very  thankful  that  the  Lord  has  cast  my  lot 
among  such  people.'' 

Of  tlie  $10.00  reserved  for  himself  out  of  Ms  pen- 
sion, after  tlie  expenses  of  collection,  only  about 
seven  remained  annually  for  liis  personal  use.  A 
better  picture  of  his  spirit  and  life  could  hardly  be 
drawn,  than  to  produce  him  sitting  at  his  table,  and 
as  he  noticed  the  absence  of  some  favorite  article  of 
food,  saying  with  a  smile— '^  We  will  have  it  when 
my  pension  comes.  It  is  but  little,  hut  it  is  a  great 
deal  better  than  nothing r  It  must  not,  however,  be 
supposed  that  Father  0 shorn  was  allowed  to  want 
while  waiting  for  the  pension.  The  means  which 
he  had  stored  were  more  than  enough  for  his  com- 
fort, and  if  they  had  not  been,  he  had  children  who 
loved  him,  and  around  him  were  "the  people"  of 
whom  he  so  often  spoke.     He  was  safe  enough. 

It  is  impossible  to  transfer  to  paper  the  pleasant- 
ness in  which  his  content  and  gratitude  were 
expressed,  not  only  in  relation  to  his  pecuniary 
condition,  but  on  all  subjects  involving  his  comfort. 
In  1850,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  he  had  a  severe 
attack  of  erysipelas,  which  it  was  thought  at  the 
time  would  prove  fatal,  and  which  in  the  end,  left 
8 


86  WILL  NOT  MORTIFY  MRS.  OSBORN. 

one  of  his  eyes  in  total  and  permanent  blindness. 
^'  Thanks  to  a  merciful  Providence !"  he  said  in  a 
letter  to  the  writer,  shortly  after  his  recovery, 
"thanks  to  a  merciful  Providence!  my  health  is 
once  more  restored.  The  disease  has,  however, 
blinded  my  right  eye,  but  I  cannot  complain,  for  I 
have  one  eye  left  for  which  I  would  not  take  all  the 
gold  in  California."  It  would  puzzle  the  brain  of  a 
satan  to  contrive  a  method  of  seriously  disturbing 
the  happiness  of  such  a  man. 

Sometimes  his  pleasantry  varied  from  a  devout 
to  a  mirthful  tone.  Judge  Elmer,  of  Bridgeton,  in 
a  letter  to  myself,  containing  some  valuable  mate- 
rial and  suggestions  for  this  memorial,  relates  the 
following  incident: — "About  1815  or  1816,  I  re- 
member stopping  at  his  house  with  a  carriage  load 
of  young  people — he  had  a  daughter  then  grown 
up.  Some  one  asked  for  water.  It  was  brought  in 
a  pitcher,  but  no  glasses.  Mr.  0 shorn,  in  his  pecu- 
liarly pleasant  manner  remarked,  'I  would  tell  you 
that  all  our  glasses  got  broken,  and  in  these  war 
times  we  could  not  afford  to  buy  any  more,  but  it 
rather  mortifies  Mrs.  Osborn,  [she  was  present.]  So 
I  suppose  I  mustn't  say  any  thing  about  it.'  " 

Though  not  exactly  german  to  the  last  point,  I 
may  as  well  in  this  place  relate  an  incident  fur- 
nished me  by  another  gentleman,  for  whose  aid  I 
have  already  expressed  my  obligation.  It  illustrates 
Father  Osborn' s  considerateness  for  the  feelings  of 
others — a  trait  around  which  a  host  of  pertinent 
anecdotes  might  be  gathered.  In  his  later  years, 
after  his  memory  was    seriously  impaired,  he   at- 


TOBACCO  GOES  WITH  THE  RUM.  87 

tended  the  funeral  of  a  man  wlio  left  a  wife  to 
mourn  his  death.  He  prayed  earnestly  for  the 
parents,  brothers,  and  friends  of  the  deceased,  but 
omitted  any  supplication  for  the  widow.  In  the 
evening,  he  was  told  that  he  had  forgotten  to  pray 
for  her.  ^'Didn't  I?"  he  exclaimed  in  sorrowful 
surprise.  He  waited  only  until  the  early  morning, 
and  then  set  off,  post  haste,  to  assure  her  of  his  sym- 
pathy, and  commend  her  to  the  widow's  God. 

Another  scrap,  bearing  on  his  personal  habits : — 
Writing,  in  1831,  to  his  Litchfield  friends,  who  it 
appears  had  with  him  taken  an  early  stand  in  favor 
of  the  temperance  movement,  he  says — "I  advise 
you  to  give  up  the  use  of  tobacco  as  well  as  rum,  as 
I  have  done.  ISTot  a  morsel  have  I  chewed  or  smoked 
since  last  September.  I  think  it  will  be  for  your 
health  as  well  as  mine."  He  was  not,  however,  cor- 
dial toward  what  he  regarded  as  fastidious  abstemi- 
ousness, and  he  resolutely  adhered  to  his  favorite 
beverage  of  coffee.  Sometime  about  his  ninetieth 
year,  a  guest  at  his  table  declined  coffee  and  took 
water  instead,  adding  a  remark  on  the  subject 
which  did  not  tally  with  the  old  gentleman's  liy- 
giene.  He,  however,  only  replied  with  his  bland 
humor — "  Some  folks  say  that  coffee  is  poison,  but 
it  has  been  a  very  slow  poison  w^ith  me." 

While  in  the  sporadic  way,  another  incident  may 
be  related,  illustrating  the  wide  respect  which  his 
name  commanded.  A  Cumberland  county  farmer, 
whose  general  good  character  was  marred  by  one 
bad  habit,  was  one  night  picked  up  by  the  police  in 


88  A  JERSEYMAN  IN  TROUBLE. 

the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  in  a  state  of  intoxica- 
tion. A  night  in  the  lock-up  restored  him  to  sober- 
ness, but  he  was  notwithstanding  marched  up  to  the 
police  magistrate  to  give  an  account  of  himself.  He 
stated,  as  was  true,  that  this  was  his  first  offence 
against  the  peace  of  the  city ;  that  he  was  an  lionest, 
and  in  the  main,  a  quiet  citizen  of  ISTew  Jersey,  and 
that  if  now  discharged,  he  would  go  home  and  of- 
fend the  majesty  of  Philadelphia  no  more. 

"In  what  part  of  New  Jersey,"  inquired  the  ma- 
gistrate, "  do  you  live  ?" 

"In  Cumberland  county." 

"  Cumberland — Fairfield  is  in  Cumberland  coun- 
ty, is  it  not?" 

"Yes  sir,  and  I  am  well  acquainted  there." 

"Perhaps  you  know  Father  Osborn,  the  min- 
ister." 

"  Know  Mm  !  yes,  well — have  been  to  his  meeting 
often.     Every  body  there  knows  that  good  man." 

"Well,  if  you  are  a  neighbor  of  Father  Osborn's, 
I  think  we  must  let  you  go  this  time." 

And  out  from  the  clutches  of  the  municipality  he 
went,  wondering  and  rejoicing  that  such  a  name 
should  have  been  to  him  a  shield  of  defence  afar 
off,  where  he  supposed  himself  out  of  all  reach  of 
friends. 

It  is  not,  however,  to  be  supposed  that  a  respecta- 
ble official's  sense  of  duty,  was  so  light  as  to  allow 
the  bare  fact  of  a  man's  neighborhood  to  Mr.  Os- 
born to  settle  the  question  of  his  discharge.  He 
doubtless  saw  that  the  dismissal  of  the  offender  was 


FATHER  OSBORN  AS  A  CITIZEN.  C'J 

in  itself  proper,  and  happening  himself  to  knoAv  of 
the  aged  pastor,  took  this  playful  method  of  honor- 
ing his  name. 

To  return  to  the  weightier  points  of  his  charac- 
ter ;  his  sacred  office  did  not  overlap  his  sense  of  his 
civil  responsibilities.  Father  Osborn  was  a  patriot, 
and  he  was  not  scrupulous  of  making  himself  known 
as  such.  He  came  down  to  us  from  the  times  when 
the  absence  of  such  a  virtue  would  have  been  little 
less  than  moral  treason.  He  brought  the  spirit  of  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution  along  into  his  whole  fol- 
lowing life,  and  he  felt  no  hesitation  in  linking  the 
patriotic  duties  of  the  citizen  to  the  articles  of  prac- 
tical religion.  He  never  lost  his  interest  in  public 
celebrations  of  our  national  independence,  and 
whenever,  as  was  often  the  case,  he  took  part  in 
them,  he  sought  to  turn  the  minds  of  the  people 
into  a  religious  meditation  on  God's  mercy  to  our 
country.  He  was  a  uniform  voter  at  the  political 
elections,  and  not  always  a  silent  politician,  especi- 
ally when  he  supposed  that  any  class  in  the  land, 
were  suffering  under  political  oppression.  He  held 
aggressive  war  in  peculiar  abhorrence,  and  nothing 
raised  his  hostility  toward  an  administration  to  a 
higher  mark,  than  measures  of  a  warlike  tendency. 

In  this  connection,  I  am  permitted  to  quote  from 
a  letter  of  Judge  L.  Q.  C.  Elmer,  who,  as  well  as 
his  father.  General  Elmer,  was  on  terms  of  personal 
intimacy  with  Mr.  Osborn  : 

**  A  biographical  sketch  [of  Mr.  Osborn,]  which  does  not  men-, 
tion  his  political  opinions,  will  be  incomplete.     He  was  a  sup- 

8* 


90  THE  DOCTRINE  OF  ELECTION. 

porter  of  Mr.  Jefferson.  I  have  before  me  five  letters  from  him 
to  my  Mher,  then  in  Congress,  dated  in  1802,  3  and  6.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1803,  he  says — '  I  was  ghid  to  hear  of  your  good  health, 
and  congratulate  you  and  every  well  wisher  to  his  country  on  the 
happy  effects  produced  by  our  beloved  President,  and  the  brave 
patriotic  republicans  at  the  last  session.  From  the  verge  of  na- 
tional ruin,  we  are  rescued  and  set  in  a  prosperous  way.  A  de- 
gree of  national  gratitude  is  due  to  the  beneficent  agents,  but  the 
highest  degree  to  the  Divine  moving  cause  who  hath  not  dealt  so 
with  any  other  nation.' 

"  Three-fourths  of  his  congregation  [Judge  Elmer  adds,]  agreed 
with  him  in  politics,  until  the  contest  between  Adams  and  Jack- 
son in  1828.  It  had  been  a  frequent  custom  of  his  to  preach  a 
political  sermon  previous  to  the  fall  election,  which  was  gener- 
ally well  received.  During  the  presidency  of  John  Quincy 
Adams,  he  together  with  the  most  leading  republicans  of  his 
flock,  adhered  to  him,  and  rejected  Jackson.  The  congregation 
became  about  equally  divided.  In  1832,  he  preached  his  last  po- 
litical sermon,  which  produced  such  a  ferment  that  he  abandoned 
the  practice." 

An  anecdote  concerning  fhat  last  political  sermon, 
will  show  tliat  there  was  a  vein  of  shrewd  humor  in 
some  of  the  hearers,  as  well  as  in  the  Pastor  of  the 
old  church.  As  already  noticed,  there  had  always 
seemed  to  hang  a  little  mist  over  his  Calvinism,  and 
he  had  some  hearers  who  occasionally  expressed  a 
wish  that  he  would  preach  the  doctrine  of  election 
a  little  often er,  and  a  little  more  plainly.  While  re- 
turning from  church,  a  member  of  the  session  re- 
marked to  his  family,  who  were  sitting  with  him  in 
the  carriage — "Well,  I  do  not  think  any  one  can 
complain  that  we  have  not  had  the  doctrine  of  elec- 
tion preached  to-day." 


POLITICS  IN  THE  PULPIT.  91 

It  is  presumed  that  this  sermon  was  fully  up  to 
the  ferment  point ;  for  at  that  time,  his  mind  was 
highly  incensed  by  what  he  regarded  as  a  breach  of 
a  solemn  treaty  of  our  government  with  the  Chero- 
kee Indians,  and  the  imprisonment  of  the  Cherokee 
missionaries,  Worcester  and  Butler,  by  the  courts 
of  Georgia,  in  consequence  of  the  refusal  of  the  ad- 
ministration to  regard  that  treaty. 

My  correspondent  is,  however,  not  aware  that 
Father  Osborn  did  carry  his  politics  into  the  pulpit 
at  subsequent  times.  The  Mexican  war  excited  his 
warm  hostility  toward  a  subsequent  administration, 
and  his  sentiments  were  incidentally  but  unsparing- 
ly proclaimed  in  his  sermons,  on  more  occasions 
than  one  between  1844  and  1848. 

I  give  these  particulars  because  I  think,  with 
Judge  Elmer,  that  they  are  essential  to  a  fair  view 
of  his  life  and  character.  When  it  is  remembered, 
that  in  his  youth,  and  especially  in  ]N"ew  England, 
politics  was  not  an  uncommon  theme  for  the  pulpit, 
and  also  how  deeply  his  spirit  was  imbued  with  the 
civil  events  of  those  times,  we  can  with  great  com- 
placency accord  to  him  a  privilege,  which  under  pre- 
sent circumstances,  ministers  of  the  gospel  cannot 
claim  without  deep  detriment  to  their  aj)propriate 
work. 

There  is  a  precious  odor  in  the  remembrance  of 
Father  Osborn,  as  he  was  known  in  the  domestic  re- 
lations of  life.  As  he  advanced  in  years,  his  mind 
often  went  back  to  the  home  of  his  childhood,  and 
its   circle  of  parents,  brothers   and  sisters,  with  a 


92  STRONG  AFFECTION 

warmtli  which  seemed  to  melt  the  frosts  of  age,  and 
rejuvenate  .all  the  affections  of  his  nature.  In  a 
note  to  his  mother,  appended  to  a  letter  to  his  Bro- 
ther, under  date  of  September  9,  1816,  he  says — 

"  Dear  Motuer, — Your  son,  Ethan,  is  yet  alive,  and  through 
the  goodness  of  God,  is,  with  those  of  his  family  who  survive, 
in  good  bodily  health.  And  I  pray  the  Lord  we  may  be  in  good 
spiritual  health.  And  may  the  Lord  support  my  kindest  of  pa- 
rents, and  grant  you  those  consolations  of  his  grace  which  are 
neither  few  nor  small.  Never  shall  I  forget  my  obligations  to 
you  for  all  your  care,  forbearance,  indulgence  and  kindness  to- 
ward me,  from  my  infancy  up.  Though  I  can  never  reward  you, 
I  pray  and  trust  the  Lord  will,  and  with  the  blessings  of  eternal 
life.'' 

Writing  to  his  last  surviving  brother,  Eliada, 
March  15,  1832,  he  commences — 

"Dear  "Brother, — Your  last  letter,  dated  the  9th  of  last 
month,  we  received  a  few  days  after  it  was  written.  The  melan- 
choly news  it  contained  was  quite  unexpected.  When  I  read — 
*  I  write  to  you  as  my  only  brother,'  my  mind  was  so  agitated 
with  grief  that  I  stopped.  I  anticipated  the  words  which  follow- 
ed, that  my  other  brother  was  gone  to  his  long,  long  home.  Read- 
ing on,  I  soon  found  that  what  I  anticipated  was  true — that  bro- 
ther John  was  indeed  gone,  and  as  we  trust,  gone  to  his  heavenly 
rest." 

A  few  extracts  from  another .  letter  to  the  same 
brother,  February  21,  1833,  will  close  our  notice  of 
his  yearnings  toward  Litchfield. 

"  Though  I  have  so  long  neglected  to  write  to  you,  I  have  often 
thought  of  you  and  desired  to  see  you.  No  distance  or  length  of 
time  can  ever  separate  you  from  my  thoughts  and  affections.    As 


TOWARD  HIS  LITCHFIELD  FRIENDS.  93 

our  relatives  are  removed  by  death,  and  ^ve  are  left  more  alone, 
it  seems  as  if  we  become  more  endeared  to  each  other.  AVhen  I 
look  to  my  father's  family,  my  parents  are  gone,  my  oldest  bro- 
ther is  gone,  besides  many  of  my  cousins  and  former  neighbors. 
But  I  espy  one  dear  brother  left,  and  dear  to  me  he  ought  to  be. 
Often  do  I  run  back  with  a  kind  of  mournful  pleasure,  to  our 
days  of  childhood  and  youth.  How  many  days  and  nights  we 
have  worked  and  slept  together !  In  my  mind,  I  often  go  with 
you  into  the  cornfield,  or  into  the  meadow  to  mow  and  rake.  And 
when  our  day's  work  is  done,  we  walk  together  down  to  the  brook, 
and  sometimes  get  on  the  great  rock  a  little  north  of  the  bridge, 
to  wash  our  feet.  Those  childish  affairs  do  often  occupy  my 
thoughts,  and  afford  some  pleasant  meditation,  though  mingled 
with  serious  reflections. 

"As  our  relations  are,  one  after  another,  going  the  way  of  all 
the  earth,  we  must  ere  long  follow  them.  I  can  truly  say  that 
after  I  went  away  from  my  father's  house,  and  for  months  and 
years  was  far  absent,  I  felt  very  sensibly  the  ties  of  affection  be- 
tween us,  and  you  seemed  to  be  the  nearest  relation  I  had  in  the 
world.  Yet  those  ties  must  be  dissolved.  And  happy  for  us  if 
we  are  so  united  to  the  blessed  Jesus  by  the  ties  of  faith  and  love, 
as  that  when  all  things  here  fail  us,  we  shall  be  received  into 
everlasting  heavenly  habitations.  Dear  brother,  I  hope  you  are 
giving  diligence  to  be  found  of  God  in  peace,  not  having  on  your 
own  righteousness  which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  by  faith 
in  Christ  Jesus,  that  so  you  may  be  accepted  and  welcomed  to 
the  joy  of  our  Lord.  And  whether  or  not  we  ever  meet  again  in 
this  world,  I  pray  that  God  would  prepare  us  for  the  first  resur- 
rection, and  for  a  happy  meeting  in  his  heavenly  kingdom." 

To  pass  over  Father  Osborn's  Fairfield  home, 
would  be  an  unpardonable  omission,  even  in  an  out- 
line of  his  life.  That  home  was  a  centre  of  attrac- 
tion for  some  of  the  best  society  in  Cumberland  and 
adjacent  counties,  who  sought  it,  not  for  its  hospit- 
ality alone,  but  for  the  impressions  of  tranquillity 


94 

which  they  were  sure  to  carry  away,  Father  Os- 
born's  love  for  the  society  of  his  friends  was  un- 
bouudecl.  Those  who  were  in  the  habit  of  visiting 
him,  will  never  forget  the  benignant  smile  with 
which  they  were  alwa^^s  welcomed,  the  cordial  sur- 
render of  his  time  to  their  enjoyment,  and  the  pe- 
culiar art  with  which  he  turned  discourse  on  any 
subject  into  a  cheerful  current. 

He  loved  a  home,  in  the  local  as  well  as  domestic 
application  of  the  term.  "We  have  seen  with  what 
words  of  fondness  he  spoke  of  the  things  as  well  as 
friends  of  his  home  in  boyhood — the  cornfield,  mea- 
dow, brook  and  rock — we  almost  expected  him  to 
add — 

"The  old  oaken  bucket  that  hung  in  the  "well." 

It  seems  to  have  been  with  him,  a  hereditary  love. 
His  nephew,  Myron  Osborn,  writes  from  Litchfield — 
"  Grandfather,  [Mr.  Osborn's  father,]  was  a  farmer, 
and  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  was  seven  years  old  when 
his  father  came  with  his  family,  to  this  place.  The 
fourth  generation  are  now  in  possession  of  the  old 
homestead  where  my  progenitors  lived  and  died." 
The  above  account  leaves  the  family  in  possession 
of  their  Litchfield  home,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  years. 

At  an  early  period  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Osborn 
took  measures  to  obtain  a  place  which  he  might  call 
his  own.  He  secured  a  central  situation,  highly  eli- 
gible for  his  purpose,  and  abandoning  the  parsonage 
owned  by  the  congregation,  he  took  possession  of 


AND  WHO  WERE  THERE  LOVED.  95 

it  in  1803.  His  own  care  in  giving  it  improvements, 
has  made  it  the  pleasant  home  so  w^ell  known  to 
his  friends.  There  he  trained  his  family,  and  there 
he  died. 

He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Eliza- 
heth  Riley,  horn  near  Bridgeton,  January  30,  1775, 
to  wdiom  he  w^as  married,  September  18, 1794.  Their 
children  were — 

Anna — born  August  7, 1795 ;  married  to  Lorenzo 
Lawrence,  1815 ;  died  in  Cincinnati,  September  13, 
1845. 

Betsey,  born  June  7,  1797 ;  died  September  28, 
1825. 

Ruth — born  September  5,  1799 ;  married  to  Ben- 
jamin Thompson,  March  16,  1^25;  died  June  4, 
1836.  . 

Ethan— born  June  12, 1801 ;  died  August  6, 1811. 

John'Elmer — born  December  4,  1803  ;  married  to 
Margaret  Harvey,  of  Massachusetts ;  now  living  in 
Hennepin,  Illinois. 

Mary — born  February  6,  1805 ;  married  in  1827, 
to  Rickard  Hurd,  of  Cincinnati,  and  now  living. 

Harriet  Seymoure — born  October  30,  1810 ;  died 
September  2,  1816. 

Robert — born  August  27, 1813  ;  noAv  a  clergyman 
in  Point  Pleasant,  in  "Western  Virginia,  where  he 
married  Josephine  Browne. 

It  will  be  seen  that  only  three  of  the  eight  named 
above,  survive.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  represented  in 
the  living  world,  by  her  children,  Mrs.  James  Pow^ell 
of  Cedarville  and  Mr.  Ethan  Osborn  Thompson,  of 


96  LEAST  SAID  WHERE  MOST  IS  FELT. 

Philadelpliia.  Mrs.  Lawrence  has  one  living  repre- 
sentative, in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Marv  Elizabeth 
Eiohardson,  residing  in  Ohio.  All  the  living  chil- 
dren have  tamilies  around  them. 

Their  mother,  the  fii*st  Mrs.  Oshorn  died,  October 
9,  1817,  at  the  age  of  fortj-two  years. 

He  vras  married  to  his  second  wife,  Esther  Foster, 
of  Pittsgrove,  Salem  Co.  K  J.  May  8,  1822.  She 
was  born  in  1785,  and  died  June  7,  1835. 

Father  Osborn  had  a  peculiar  manner  of  nourish- 
ing his  domestic  afleetions  in  silence.  I  have  often 
been  surprised  to  observe  that  he  spoke  least  of 
those  whose  memories  I  found,  on  careful  scrutiny, 
were  most  deeply  treasured  in  his  heart.  Perhaps 
this  habit  grew  out  of  his  settled  method  of  bringing 
forward  only  cheerful  themes  for  conversation. 
Perhaps  he  was  unwilling  to  trust  his  voice  in  the 
effort  to  speak  where  his  feelings  were  too'  deeply 
interested.  In  a  letter  to  his  particularly  beloved 
brother  Eliada.  he  refers  to  their  last  parting  which 
proved  their  final  separation  in  this  world,  in  these 
terms — "  Since  in  parting,  we  shook  hands,  but 
could  not  speak."  He  talked  but  little  of  his  be- 
reavements, or  the  absence  of  his  children,  but  his 
domestic  relations  had  been  happy,  and  his  heart 
was  often  with  the  dead  or  absent  ones  of  his  house- 
hold. 

His  survi^dng  children  have  for  many  years,  been 
settled  in  homes  of  their  own,  in  distant  parts  of  the 
country,  and  since  the  death  of  his  last  wife,  the  ad- 
ministration of  his  household  has  been  conducted, 


PASTORAL   AFFECTION.  97 

as  already  mentioned,  by  the  devoted  niece  wliom 
God  in  mercy  preser^-ed  for  the  support  of  his  help- 
less years.  Her  long,  faithful  watch  over  his  com- 
forts, merits  at  least  this  humble  notice.  * 

Passing  from  his  home  to  his  spiritual  family, 
the  church,  the  welling  up  of  affection  from  his 
heart,  thousfh  no  more  real,  was  oftener  brouo*ht  to 
the  notice  of  the  people.  His  love  of  his  flock  was 
one  of  the  elements  of  his  long  influence  over  them. 
It  was  not  alone  the  heavenly  sentiment  of  love  for 
their  souls,  but  also  the  personal  attachment  of 
friend  toward  friend.  They  seldom  listened  to  a 
sermon  in  which  this  did  not  in  some  way. so  break 
forth,  as  to  secure  a  response  in  their  own  hearts. 
An  example  of  this  will  be  afforded  by  another  quo- 
tation— ^the  last  which  I  shall  make  from  the  dis- 
courses which  have  so  liberally  contributed  their 
material  to  this  narrative  : 

"  My  cordial  attachment  for  my  Christian  friends  has  for  many 
years  been  growing  strong.  I  trust  our  friendship  in  Christ 
Jesus  will  be  immortal  in  the  happy  heavenly  realm.  I  love 
you  because  you  love  my  Saviour,  and  are  my  fellow-travelers 
to  the  heavenly  Zion,  and  candidates  for  a  like  crown  of  glory. 
As  long  as  I  live,  your  Christian  friendship  will  be  dear  to  me,  a 
sweet  balm  of  mv  life  :  and  in  the  morning  of  the  resurrection,  I 


^  The  personal  friends  of  the  parties,  will  be  pleased  with  the  no- 
tice of  a  transaction  highly  honorable  to  all  concerned.  During  the 
last  visit  made  by  ilrs.  Hurd  to  her  father,  while  as  yet  he  was  com- 
petent to  make  a  devise,  at  her  earnest  instigation  bis  will  was  so  al- 
tered as  entirely  to  supersede  herself  in  favor  of  Miss  McQueen,  the 
lady  referred  to. 

9 


98 


SEPARATION  AND  RE-UNION. 


hope  to  spring  forward  to  greet  you  with  ineffable  delight.  Let 
our  brotherly  love  continue  and  advance  until  it  be  pei^fected  in 
glory/' 

^  We  may  well  imagine  how  this  unaffected  expres- 
sion of  his  holy  attachment,  wrought  up  the  sympa- 
thy of  his  hearers,  and  prepared  them  to  listen  to 
the  following  sentences  with  child-like  reverence  and 
love.  They  close  his  autobiographical  sermons, 
and  in  transcribing  them,  the  writer  parts  from  what 
has  been  to  himself  the  interesting  service  of  pre- 
paring this  memorial. 

"And  now,  brethren  and  friends,  we  have  been  together  a 
long  time,  and  how  soon  we  may  separate,  God  only  knows.  But 
whether  our  separation  for  this  world  be  sooner  or  later,  I  solemn- 
ly charge  all  of  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  be  ready  to  meet  me 
at  the  right  hand  of  our  final  judge.  Let  not  one  of  you  neglect 
the  salvation  of  his  immortal  soul. 

"  We  shall  all  stand  on  a  level  before  our  Judge,  and  he  will 
pass  sentence  on  us  without  respect  of  persons.  I  shall  have  no 
advantage  over  you  on  account  of  my  present  station.  We  shall 
each  be  tried  by  the  same  rule,  the  word  of  Christ  who  will  judge 
us  in  the  last  day.  If  some  of  you  are  better  Christians  than'^I 
am,  as  I  hope  you  are,  you  will  be  more  glorious,  and  I  shall  re- 
joice with  you  in  your  superior  dignity  and  happiness.  There 
is  no  envy  in  that  blessed  world:  all  rejoice  in  each  other's  joy. 
My  only  hope  of  reaching  it,  is  through  the  mercy  and  grace  of 
God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Brethren,  do  continue  to  pray  for  me,  and 
I  pray  the  God  of  peace  to  sanctify  you  wholly,  and  preserve  you 
unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


END  OF  THE  MEMORIAL. 


CENTENARY  EXERCISES 

AT  THE 

ERECTION  OF  A  MONUMENT  OVER  THE  GRAVE 

OF 

REV.    ETHAN    OSBORN, 

AUGUST  21,  1858, 
THE   ONE    HUNDREDTH   ANNIVERSARY   OF    HIS    BIRTH, 

WITH  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

EULOGY  PRONOUNCED  BY  Hon.  L.  Q.  C.  ELMER, 

AKD  THE 

ADDRESS  OF  REV.  N.  C.  BURT. 


CENTENARY  EXERCISES, 


The  remains  of  Father  Osboru  were  hardly  left 
to  the  quiet  of  the  grave,  before  his  friends  in  Fair- 
field and  Bridgeton,  started  the  enterprise  of  pro- 
curing a  suitable  token,  of  remembrance  to  stand 
over  the  grave.  The  effort  resulted  in  the-  erection 
of  a  plain,  comely  monument,  composed  of  a  shaft 
about  ten  feet  in  height,  wrought  from  Italian  mar- 
ble, standing  upon  a  square  plinth,  the  whole  spar- 
ingly, but  neatly  ornamented,  and  corresponding 
with  the  character  which  it  is  set  to  commemorate. 
Carrying  out  this  likeness,  the  inscriptions  on  the 
four  sides  are  brief,  simple,  and  pertinent. 

Front—"  Erected  August  21st,  1858,  to  the  memory  of  Rev. 
Ethan  Osborn,  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  August  21,  1758 ;  died 
full  of  faith,  and  in  the  hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection,  May  1, 
1858,  aged  99  years  8  months  and  10  days. 

Right  Side—*'  Graduated  at  Dartmouth,  1784,  licensed  1786, 
called  to  Fairfield  1788,  ordained  1789,  and  resigned  his  charge 
1844,  having  been  pastor  of  this  Church  55  years. 

Rear — "  A  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  a  good  man,  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  Gospel. 

Left  Side — "  He  obeyed  the  command — *  Go  preach  my  Gos- 
pel.^    His  children  in  the  flesh  and  in  the  spirit  lie  around  him." 

Saturday,  August  21, 1858,  was  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  his  birth,  and  it  was  selected  as  an 

9* 


102  CENTENARY  EXERCISES. 

appropriate  time  for  public  services  in  connection 
witli  the  erection  of  this  monument.  Once  more  a 
great  assembly  was  gathered  within  and  around  the 
Old  Stone  Church.  They  came,  as  at  the  funeral, 
from  all  the  country  around,  crowding  about  the 
outside  of  the  doors  and  windows,  after  the  seats, 
aisles,  galleries,  and  pulpit  and  gallery  stairs,  were 
all  crowded. 

The  presence  of  all  Father  Osborn's  surviving 
children,  who  for  more  than  thirty  years,  had  not 
before  been  together  under  the  family  roof,  was  a 
feature  of  no  small  interest  in  the  scene.  His  old 
Litchfield  friends  also  sent  on  a  delegate,  in  the  per- 
son of  his  nephew,  Mr.  Myron  Osborn.  The  follow- 
ing, as  far  as  recollected,  are  the  clergy  who  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  and  platform. — The  Rev.  Messrs. 
James  Boggs  and  Charles  F.  Diver,  resident  pastors 
with  the  supervision  of  the  exercises ;  Rev.  John  A. 
Annin,  also  a  resident  pastor ;  Rev.  George  "W.  Jan- 
vier, of  Pittsgrove,  the  patriarch  of  the  Presbytery 
of  West  Jersey,  and  Rev.  Messrs.  S.  B.  Jones,  D.  D., 
T.  W.  Cattell,  and  J.  W.  Hubbard,  pastors  in  the 
same  Presbytery;  Rev.  Messrs.  Challis  and  Ken- 
nard,  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  Hugg  and  Duffield, 
of  the  Methodist,  all  of  Cumberland  county.  From 
without  the  State,  the  venerable  William  I^eill,  D.D., 
of  the  Second,  Rev.  B.  B.  Hotchkin,  of  the  Third, 
and  Rev.  A.  Converse,  D.  D.,  of  the  Fourth  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  Nathaniel  C.  Burt,  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore. 

The  services  were  commenced  by  Dr.  JSTeill,  who 


CENTENARY  EXERCISES.  103 

gave  out  the  following  lijmn,  which  was  sung  with 
great  effect  hy  a  choir  under  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Williams,  now  of  Philadelphia,  hut  for  many 
years  chorister  under  the  old  pastor : 

"  0  God  of  Bethel,  by  whose  hand 
Thy  people  still  are  fed, 
•     Thou  through  this  weary  pilgrimage, 
Hast  all  our  fathers  led. 

"  Our  vows,  our  prayers  we  now  present 
Before  thy  throne  of  grace  ; 
God  of  our  fathers,  be  the  God 
Of  their  succeeding  race. 

"  Through  each  perplexing  path  of  life 
Our  wandering  footsteps  guide  ; 
Give  us  each  day  our  daily  bread, 
And  raiment  fit  provide. 

"  0  spread  thy  covering  wings  around 
Till  all  our  wanderings  cease, 
And  at  our  Father's  loved  abode, 
Our  souls  arrive  in  peace. 

"  Such  blessings  from  thy  gracious  hand, 
Our  humble  prayers  implore, 
And  thou  shalt  be  our  chosen  God 
And  portion  evermore." 

Prayer  was  then  offered  hy  Eev.  Mr.  Janvier. 
Hon.  John  T.  l^ixon,  of  Bridgeton,  followed  with  a 
statement  respecting  the  monument,  and  the  various 
documents  deposited  in  the  foundation  stone,  com- 
prising the  names  and  proceedings  of  the  Committee 
of  Erection,  a  manuscript  sermon  written  hy  the 
deceased,  notices  of  his  death  and  funeral,  and  other 


104  ■    CENTENARY  EXERCISES. 

articles,  from  the  West  Jersey  Pioneer,  Bridgeton 
Chronicle,  Christian  Observer,  and  American  Pres- 
byterian. 

The  audience  then  listened  to  the  Eulogy  pro- 
nounced by  Judge  Elmer,  and  the  Address  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Burt,  copies  of  both  of  which  are  subjoined  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  family,  find  other 
friends  of  Father  Osborn.  The  interval  between 
the  delivery  of  them  was  occupied  by  singing  a 
hymn  given  out  by  E,ev.  Dr.  Jones. 

Rev.  Dr.  Converse,  editor  of  the  Christian  Ob- 
server, and  co-presbyter  with  the  deceased,  was  then 
called  upon  for  remarks.  He  responded  by  saying 
"That  our  late  Father  Osborn  was  loved,  and  honor- 
ed, and  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  the  members  of  the 
Presbytery,  and  that  at  their  last  regular  meeting 
they  appointed  a  large  committee  to  be  here  on  this 
day,  to  unite  with  you  in  commemorating  the  hun- 
dredth return  of  his  birth-day.*  In  this  appoint- 
ment it  was  no  doubt  their  purpose  to  act  in  accord- 
ance with  the  precept  which  God  gave  his  ancient 
Church  : 

'  Thou  shalt  stand  up  before  the  hoary  head,  and  honor  the 
face  of  the  old  man,  and  fear  thy  God :  I  am  the  Lord.' 

"  The  Presbytery  would  have  rejoiced  to  be  here  by 
their  Committee  of  which  I  am  a  member,  to  greet 

*  At  the  spring  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  while  Father  Osborn 
was  yet  living,  and  his  friends  were  looking  for  the  continuance  of 
his  life  beyond  this  period,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  represent 
the  Presbytery  in  a  contemplated  congratulatory  festival  on  the  pre- 
sent anniversary. 


CENTENARY  EXERCISES.  105 

and  honor  our  aged  and  revered  co-presbyter ;  but 
it  lias  pleased  God  to  disappoint  our  hopes,  and  to 
call  our  father  to  the  assembly  and  church  of  the 
First-born  in  Heaven.  "We  cannot  regret  his  ab- 
sence. Having  accomplished  the  great  purposes  of 
life  and  finished  the  work  God  gave  him  to  do,  it 
was  far  better  for  him  to  be  absent  from  the  body 
and  present  with  Christ,  than  to  be  here  suffering 
under  the  infirmities  of  a  hundred  years.  The 
speaker  added  that  he  could  not  think  it  proper  to 
occupy  the  time  of  this  large  assembly,  with  desul- 
tory remarks  suggested  by  the  occasion,  after  the 
able  and  interesting  discourse  to  which  they  had 
listened.  Before  closing  he  referred  to  the  faithful 
sketch  of  Father  Osborn,  given  by  Judge  Elmer. 
The  honorable  speaker  had  not  called  him  a  great 
man ;  he  had  presented  him  before  us  as  a  good  man, 
unassuming — of  great  simplicity  of  character, — a 
man  of  true  humility  and  modesty.  And  is  not  sm- 
'plicity  an  element  of  greatness  ?  Are  not  modesty 
and  humility  characteristic  of  greatness  ?  We  may 
mistake  in  our  estimates  of  men,  but  our  departed 
friend  was  a  man  of  great  influence,  of  which  the 
hundreds  convened  here  to-day  are  living  witnesses. 
The  influence  of  such  a  man  survives  on  earth  when 
he  has  gone  to  his  rest."  Dr.  C.  closed  with  a  brief 
remark  on  transmitted  influences  as  seen  in  that  com- 
munity, with  a  passing  reference  to  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Elmer,  who  was  the  Pastor  of  that  church  a  hun- 
dred and  thirty  years  ago. 

The  services  were  closed  with  a  benediction  pro- 
nounced by  Rev.  Mr.  Challis. 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY, 


[Statement  by  the  Publisher. — It  was  expected  and  earnestly 
desired,  that  the  complete  Eulogy,  pronounced  by  Judge  Elmer, 
should  be  given  in  this  place.  It  is  proper  to  state,  that  he  and 
Mr.  Hotchkin  were  engaged  at  the  same  time  on  their  respective 
performances,  and  without  any  such  facilities  for  conference,  (be- 
ing a  long  distance  apart,)  as  would  enable  them  to  keep  their 
tracks  from  interfering.  Having  both,  to  some  extent,  access  to 
the  same  materials,  and  being  in  common  familiar  with  the  most 
observable  traits  of  Mr.  Osborn,  their  pens  could  not  well  avoid 
falling  into  several  coincidences.  These,  however,  are  found  to 
have  been  fewer  than  might  have  been  expected.  Still,  it  turns 
out  that  some  historical  portions  of  the  Eulogy,  and  a  few 
thoughts  in  review  of  the  character  of  its  venerable  subject,  had 
been  anticipated  in  the  "Memorial." 

In  view  of  this  fact,  the  Judge  felt  great  embarrassment  in 
yielding  to  the  request  for  a  copy  for  publication.  The  consent 
at  first  given  reluctantly,  has  since  been  followed  by  a  letter  so 
deprecatory  of  its  appearance  as  a  whole,  for  the  reasons  above 
stated,  that  we  are  constrained  to  defer  to  his  feelings,  and  con- 
tent ourselves  with  the  publication  of  copious  extracts,  embracing 
however,  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  entire  Eulogy.] 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  EULOGY. 

I  COME  to  speak  of  the  character  and  virtues  of 
Ethan  Osborn,  with  feelings  of  lively  sensibility. 
Although  out  of  the  bounds  of  his  congregation, 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  107 

from  my  earliest  recollection  I  liave  known  and 
revered  him.  He  was  long  the  pastor  of  a  people 
once  ministered  to  by  the  Eev.  Daniel  Elmer,  from 
whom  all  of  the  name,  in  this  part  of  the  State, 
are  descended.  He  was  the  life-long  friend  of  my 
father.  Many  ties  bonnd  them  together.  Although 
not  then  acquainted,  they  had  both  fought  in  that 
great  contest  which  established  our  Independence. 
They  were  generally  of  one  mind,  in  politics  and  in 
religion.  Looking  recently  at  Mr.  Osborn's  family 
Bible,  I  found  recorded  in  his  own  hand-writing,  the 
dates  of  the  birth  and  death  of  Ebenezer  Elmer;  he 
alone,  of  all  his  friends,  in  nowise  related  by  blood 
or  marriage,  being  thus  remembered. 

But  why  this  monument,  this  solemn  ceremony, 
and  this  eulogy  of  a  deceased  minister?  He  neither 
coveted  nor  expected  such  distinctions.  He  was  a 
plain  man,  and  not  specially  distinguished  for  learn- 
ing or  eloquence.  He  was  far  more  anxious  to  per- 
form well  the  duties  of  a  humble  station,  than  to 
reach  a  high  seat  in  the  synagogue.  His  voice  was 
seldom  heard  in  the  pulpits  of  fashionable  congre- 
gations ;  and  when  it  was,  attracted  no  applause. 

All  of  us  who  knew  the  man,  feel,  however,  that 
he  deserved  to  be  thus  commemorated.  Our  object 
is,  not  to  glorify  him,  for  to  him  the  applause  or 
censure  of  men  is  nothing.  Our  object  is  to  benefit 
ourselves  and  posterity,  by  a  record  of  the  life, 
labors,  and  death  of  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, a  true  patriot,  a  prudent  counsellor,  a  reliable 
friend,  an  humble,  consistent  Christian.     He  spent 


108  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY. 

a  long  life  in  the  service  of  the  one  people,  among 
whom  he  first  settled.  He  was  spared  to  an  extreme 
old  age,  and  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  commanded  the  respect  and  love  of  all  who 
knew  him.  Children's  children  grew  up  and  called 
him  blessed. 

A  century  has  elapsed  since  his  birth ;  a  century 
of  great  events.  Born  a  subject  of  King  George  II., 
he  died  the  citizen  of  a  great  and  prosperous  repub- 
lic. Seventy  years,  the  allotted  period  of  human 
life  have  gone  by,  since  he  left  his  nativ/e  home  in 
Connecticut,  after  having  graduated  at  Dartmouth, 
I:i[.  II.,  and  been  licensed  to  preach  about  two  years 
and  a  half.  ISTo  steamboats  or  railroads  then  ren- 
dered a  long  journey  easy  and  of  quick  despatch. 
Traveling  on  horseback,  and  not  intending  at  first 
to  go  farther  south  than  Philadelphia,  he  was  provi- 
dentially directed  to  this  congregation,  which  had 
been  about  five  years  destitute  of  a  pastor.  He 
came  to  a  people  prepared  to  receive,  and  needing 
such  a  man.  They  were  of  Puritan  origin.  For 
many  years  in  their  early  history  they  had  resorted 
to  I^Tew  England  for  pastors.  Daniel  Elmer  was 
born  and  educated  there ;  and  when  William  Eam- 
sey,  who  was  of  Irish  parentage,  and  had  been 
educated  at  the  new  College  at  Princeton,  was 
selected  to  succeed  him  in  1756,  it  was  thought 
advisable  that  he  should  go  to  Connecticut,  and  be 
there  licensed.  After  a  probation  of  six  months 
Mr.  Osborn  received  a  very  cordial  invitation  to 
settle,  and  obeyed  the  call.     He  was  received  by 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  109 

the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  ordained  and  in- 
stalled December  3,  1789.  Following  Mr.  Ramsey, 
a  man  of  uncommon  eloquence,  and  Mr.  Hollings- 
head,  who  was  also  distinguished  as  a  preacher, 
although  differing  much  from  them,  he  must  have 
been  an  acceptable  preacher.  That,  considering  all 
his  qualifications,  he  was  well  fitted  for  the  place,  is 
shown  by  the  fact,  that  from  the  commencement  of 
his  pastorate,  until  advancing  age  and  infirmities 
induced  him  to  resign,  after  a  service  of  fifty-five 
years,  no  one  talked,  no  one  thought  of  a  separa- 
tion. He  had  enlisted  for  life;  his  people  chose 
him  for  life ;  and  to  the  end  of  his  life  he  remained 
among  them,  only  ceasing  to  labor  wdien  his  strength 
no  longer  permitted. 

When  he  arrived,  he  found  this  ''  Old  Stone 
Church,"  now  in  its  turn  abandoned,  newly  erected 
and  occupied.  The  frame  building,  following  the 
temporary  structure  of  logs,  which  stood  in  the  old 
grave  yard,  on  the  bank  of  the  Cohansey,  about  a 
mile  from  this  place,  and  which  had  been  known 
for  three-fourths  of  a  century  as  the  "  Cohansey 
Church,"  having  become  unfit  for  use,  the  property 
here  had  been  purchased  and  stone  collected  for  a 
new  building  in  the  year  1775.  But  the  trials  and 
privations  of  the  Eevolution  suspended  the  work 
until  the  year  1780,  when  it  was  resumed,  and  the 
building  completed  in  that  and  the  succeeding  year. 
In  the  meantime  the  old  house  had  so  decayed,  that 
it  became  necessary  to  remove  the  seats  aud  the 
pulpit  and  place  them  under  the  large,  old  corner 
10 


110  JUDGE  Elmer's  eulogy. 

tree,  now  gone,  where  Mr.  Hollingshead  was  accus- 
tomed to  preach.  The  first  sermon  in  the  new 
house  was  preached  by  him  September  7, 1780,  from 
the  text,  ^'But  what  things  were  gain  to  me,  those  I 
counted  loss  for  Christ."  Philip,  iii.  7.  The  labors 
and  sacrifices  of  the  people,  considering  the  time 
and  circumstances,  must  have  been  great,  and  a 
great  blessing  from  God  followed  them.  About 
one  hundred  and  twenty  persons  were  added  to  the 
church  during  the  ensuing  two  years.  Such,  how- 
ever, was  the  efiect  of  the  destitution  that  followed 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Hollingshead,  that  when  the 
new  pastor  commenced  his  work,  he  could  find  but 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  members  in  all. 

The  congregation  was  scattered  over  the  whole 
of  Fairfield  township,  and  in  parts  of  the  adjoining 
townships  of  Downe  and  Deerfield,  including  a  por- 
tion of  the  people  of  Bridgeton  where  there  was  no 
church  of  any  denomination,  although  it  had  been 
the  county  town  forty  years.  The  only  churches 
then  in  the  county  were  the  Old  Cohansey  Baptist 
Church,  founded  in  1690,  probably  the  first  in  the 
county,  which  then  worshipped  at  a  house  in  lower 
Hopewell,  near  where  Sheppard's  mill  now  is ;  the 
Presbyterian  churches  at  Greenwich  and  Deerfield; 
the  Seventh-Day  Baptist  Church  at  Shiloh ;  a  Baptist 
church  at  Dividing  creek;  a  German  Keformed 
church  in  Upper  Hopewell,  which  had  no  pastor  and 
soon  went  to  decay ;  and  the  Friends  meetings  at 
Greenwich  and  Port  Elizabeth.     The  population  de- 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  Ill 

X3endcnt  on   tliis    churcli   for  religious   instruction, 
may  be  estimated  at  about  two  tbousand.  * 

It  was  the  understanding  of  the  new  pastor  and 
his  people,  as  I  have  already  remarked,  that  he  set- 
tled for  life.  Such  was  then  the  usual  tenure  of  the 
pastoral  office,  in  the  land  of  steady  habits  from 
which  he  came.  He  did  not  sit  down  among  a 
secluded  people,  to  prepare  himself  by  a  few  years 
of  careful  composition  and  study,  for  greater  useful- 
ness in  a  more  important  charge,  nor  did  the  con- 
gregation stipulate  that  six  months'  notice  should 
terminate  the  engagement.  He  did  not  come  with 
a  partner  already  chosen,  but  after  a  few  years  of 
careful  saving,  as  one  important  preparation  for 
housekeeping,  found  a  wife  among  his  hearers,  and 
soon  afterwards  purchased  a  convenient  and  com- 
fortable but  modest  house,  with  a  few  acres  of 
ground,  leaving  the  old  parsonage  and  farm  to  be 
sold.  In  this  house  he  lived  fifty-five  years,  and 
there  he  ended  his  days,  and  died  in  the  joyful  hope 
of  a  glorious  resurrection. 


*  Since  the  above  was  spoken,  I  have  ascertained  that  property 
was  conveyed  to  Trustees  for  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Port 
Elizabeth  as  early  as  1785,  and  it  is  probable  that  there  vs^ere  a  few 
Methodists  in  other  parts  of  the  county  before  1789.  The  whole  num- 
ber of  communicants  belonging  to  all  the  churches  at  the  last  date 
did  not  exceed  600.  The  population  was  then  about  6000,  so  that 
the  communicants  were  about  one  in  ten.  At  this  time  there  are  8 
Presbyterian  churches  with  about  1150  members,  7  Baptists  with  at 
least  1000  members,  and  17  Methodist  Episcopal,  with  near  3000 
members,  the  whole  number  exceeding  5000,  which  is  more  than  one 
in  four  church  members  in  the  present  population  of  19,000. 


112  JUDGE  Elmer's  eulogy. 

Laboriaus  in  his  habits,  blessed  through  his  long 
life  with  imcoiiinion  health,  he  went  faithfully  to 
work,  to  win  souls  for  Christ.  He  adapted  himself 
in  all  respects,  to  his  circumstances.  Although  a 
very  fair  scholar,  he  soon  lost  his  character  for 
scholarship,  as  he  has  been  heard  pleasantly  to  re- 
mark, by  striving  to  be  plain  and  intelligible  to  the 
weakest  capacity.  In  a  sermon  preached  in  1822, 
he  said  with  his  characteristic  simplicity:  "As  to 
my  proceedings  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  I  aimed 
to  follow  the  practice  of  my  worthy  predecessors, 
wdthout  making  any  alteration,  unless  it  could  evi- 
dently be  made  for  the  better.  I  was  favored  with 
a  session  of  able  and  pious  men ;  and  never  shall  I 
forget  the  first  prayer  meeting  in  which  they  assisted 
me  in  this  house.  They  prayed  with  the  spirit.  My 
mind  was  so  sensibly  affected,  that  perhaps  I  could 
not  refrain  from  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy.  And 
respecting  the  session  ever  since,  the  Lord  has  high- 
ly favored  me  and  the  church." 

******* 

For  twenty  years  or  more  after  his  settlement,  he 
followed  the  ancient  custom  of  preaching  two  ser- 
mons on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  meeting  house,  with  an 
interval  of  half  an  hour.  But  during  the  intermedi- 
ate time,  he  was  by  no  means  idle.  He  visited  the 
schools  in  the  different  neighborhoods ;  was  at  all 
times  attentive  to  the  sick  and  suffering,  and  visited 
and  prayed  with  his  people  systematically  and 
diligently. 

When  he  began  his  labors,  Bible,  Tract,  Mission- 


JUDGE  Elmer's  eulogy.  113 

ary  and  Colonization  Societies  were  unknown ;  but 
when  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  the  church 
was  aroused  to  some  proper  sense  of  duty  in  these 
matters,  he  entered  at  once  and  heartily  into 
measures  for  promoting  them.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Cumberland  Bible  Society,  which 
preceded  the  American  Bible  Society,  and  was 
among  the  first  in  the  country.  He  was  also  an 
earnest  promoter  of  the  movement  in  favor  of  tem- 
perance, cheerfully  relinquishing  his  long  practice 
of  taking  a  small  quantity  of  spirits  daily,  which  he 
had  been  taught  to  consider  important  for  his 
health,  and  acting  upon  the  apostolic  principle  of 
total  abstinence  from  whatever  might  make  his 
brother  offend. 

But  while  he  did  not  hesitate  to  combine  with 
others  to  set  a  public  example  of  abstinence  when 
the  emergency  required  such  a  testimony,  and  to  en- 
deavor by  all  suitable  means  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  his  fellow-men,  he  was  too  wise,  and  too  deeply 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  his  Master,  to  fall  into  the 
prevalent  error  of  attempting  reforms,  upon  princi- 
ples not  sanctioned  by  his  infallible  guide,  the  re- 
vealed will  of  God. 

[After  some  remarks  upon  the  superficialness  and  certain  re- 
action of  reforms  which  ignore  the  moral  and  spiritual  element, 
and  after  a  notice  of  the  political  views  and  course  of  Mr.  Osborn, 
corroborative  of  what  is  contained  in  the  "  Memorial,"  the 
Eulogy  proceeds  to  speak  of  his  Theological  opinions  in  terms 
more  to  be  regarded,  because  coming  from  one  whose  ecclesiasti- 
cal connections  are  with  the  Old  School  branch  of  the  Presbyte- 

10* 


114  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY. 

rian  church.  They  probably  express  the  vie-vys  now  entertained 
of  the  departed  pastor,  by  the  body  from  which,  the  asperities  of 
the  times  severed  him. J 

His  theology  was  that  of  a  very  moderate  Calvin- 
ist.  Believing  and  preaching  the  doctrines  of  per- 
sonal election  and  final  perseverance  of  the  saints, 
he  ias  firmly  believed  and  tanght  a  general  atone- 
ment. And  this  he  did  with  the  sincerity  and  open- 
ness that  always  characterized  him.  Abont  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  not  being  listened  to  when  the  sub- 
ject was  discussed  at  the  monthly  association,  with 
the  respect  to  which  he  thought  his  age  entitled  him, 
he  prepared  a  sermon  in  defence  of  his  views,  which 
on  a  subsequent  occasion  he  preached  before  them. 
When  accosted,  after  the  services  by  one  of  his  bre- 
thren with  the  remark,  "  Well,  brother  Osborn,  you 
gave  it  to  Cahanism  to-day  with  an  Arminian 
cudgel,"  he  good  humoredly  replied,  "  My  opinions 
have  been  a  good  deal  questioned,  and  I  thought  I 
would  let  you  know  my  views." 

Firm  and  decided  as  he  was  in  maintaining  his 
own  opinions,  he  was  entirely  free  from  envy  and 
jealousy,  and  was  willing  to  accord  to  all  others  the 
same  freedom  of  opinion  he  claimed  for  himself. 
He  disliked  controversy,  and  was  a  model  and  ad- 
vocate of  peace.  So  thorough  was  the  conviction 
of  his  sincerity,  so  meek  was  his  spirit,  so  blameless 
his  life,  and  so  courteous  his  manners,  that  although 
his  brethren  were  grieved,  at  what  they  could  not 
but  regard  as  a  departure  from  the  true  doctrine  of 
their   confession  of  faith,    and   of  the  Bible,  they 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  115 

never  failed  to  accord  to  him  their  love  and  esteem, 
and  to  tolerate  diiFerences,  which  exhibited  by  an- 
other man  or  with  a  different  spirit,  might  have  pro- 
duced very  unpleasant  consequences. 

When  the  disruption  of  the  Presb3i:erian  body 
occurred,  no  one  doubted,  on  Avhicli  side  he  would 
be  found.  But  he  was  in  no  hurry  to  break  up  old 
associations.  "Writing  to  a  sister  in  1840,  he  said : 
"  I  have  been  frequently  asked,  what  is  the  differ- 
ence between  the  Old  and  'New  School.  Yesterday, 
agreeable  to  previous  notice,  I  answered  the  question 
from  the  pulpit.  After  explaining  some  difference 
of  opinion  respecting  the  doings  of  the  Assembly  of 
1837  and  1838,  and  of  a  few  doctrines,  I  drew  sev- 
eral inferences,  one  of  Avhich  was  that  the  New 
School  Assembly  is  the  genuine  constitutional  Pres- 
byterian Assembly  in  the  United  States.  Whether 
we  shall  remove  our  standing  to  a  ISTew  School  Pres- 
bytery, we  have  not  yet  determined.  I  am  much 
perplexed  in  a  troubled  situation,  between  two  fires. 
May  the  Lord  direct  me,  to  do  what  is  right  and 
best."  His  church  very  soon  seceded  from  the 
West  Jersey  Presbytery,  and  united  with  one  con- 
nected with  the  other  party.  Before  this,  there  had 
been  a  secession  from  his  church  and  a  new  one 
constituted.  The  final  result,  as  you  know,  has 
been  that  the  one  Old  Cohansey  Church,  has  become 
three,  that  at  Fairton,  claiming  to  be  the  regular 
successor,  so  far  as  I  know,  without  a  contestant. 

Fairly  to  characterize  Mr.  Osborn's  preaching, 
will  be  difficult.     As  I  have  already  intimated,  it 


116  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY. 

cannot  be  said  that  lie  was  an  eloquent  man.  Too 
busy  to  be  a  great  student,  be  drew  bis  sermons  di- 
rectly from  tbe  Bible,  and  depended  on  bis  own 
tbougbts.  Many  bere,  remember  bis  common  prac- 
tice, at  a  certain  period  of  bis  discourse,  of  stopping 
and  looking  at  bis  watcb,  and  tben  saying,  ^'Hav- 
ing gone  tbrougb  tbe  doctrinal  part  of  my  discourse, 
I  come  now  to  make  some  practical  remarks."  He 
bad  a  clear,  distinct  voice ;  "  tbe  finest,  some  of  us 
tbougbt,  in  tbe  Pbiladelpbia  Presbytery,"  is  tbe  tes- 
timony of  one,  for  many  years  a  co-presbyter.  His 
sermons  were  eminently  practical,  were  well 
tbougbt  out,  and  well  adapted  botb  to  edify  bis  flock, 
and  to  alarm  tbe  careless.  I  can  never  forget  tbe 
solemn  empbasis  witb  wbicb  I  once  beard  bim  pro- 
nounce tbe  awful  warning  of  tbe  last  ten  verses  of 
tbe  first  cbapter  of  Proverbs. 

You  bave  all  beard  of  tbe  famous  Wbitefield,  tbat 
"  prince  of  preacbers,"  wbose  voice  was  once  beard 
by  multitudes  of  tbis  and  tbe  otber  congregations 
in  tbe  county,  wben  be  preacbed  in  tbe  year  1740, 
on  a  small  bill  near  tbe  meeting-bouse  at  Greeu- 
wicb,  and  wbere  in  bis  own  language ;  "  Tbe  words 
gradually  struck  tbe  bearers,  till  tbe  wbole  congre- 
gation was  greatly  moved,  and  two  cried  out  in  tbe 
bitterness  of  tbeir  souls,  after  a  crucified  Saviour, 
and  were  scarcely  able  to  stand.  My  soul  was  re- 
plenisbed  as  witb  new  wine,  and  life  and  power  flew 
all  around  me."  "Wbat  was  said  by  tbis  wonderful 
man,  wben  put  on  paper,  evinced  no  superiority  to 
tbe  productions  of  ordinary  preacbers.     Gifted  witb 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  117 

a  most  musical  and  powerful  voice,  and  with  deep 
feelings,  his  matchless  power,  like  the  power  of  all 
great  orators,  w^as  due  to  his  heing  able  to  commu- 
nicate his  own  emotions  and  passions  to  his  hearers, 
and  thus  to  bring  their  whole  minds  into  sympathy 
and  union  with  his  own. 

The  influence  exerted  by  Mr.  Osborn,  although  it 
fell  far  short  of  that  exerted  by  Whitefield,  I  am  per- 
suaded was  due  to" a  similar  power  of  bringing  the 
feelings  of  those  he  addressed,  to  a  lively  sympathy 
with  his  own.  His  natural  temper  was  quick  and 
irritable,  entirely  controlled  by  perfect  self-com- 
mand ;  and  he  was  endowed  with  a  lively  sympathy 
for  others,  and  especially  for  those  in  trouble,  and 
the  poor  and  humble. 

A  strong  feeling  for  the  poor,  and  for  every  class 
of  his  people,  was  shown  in  his  countenance,  and  in 
every  word  and  action.  If  he  rose  to  address  a 
Sabbath-school,  with  his  ordinary  greeting,  "  Well, 
children,  I  am  glad  to  see  so  many  of  you  here," 
every  eye  brightened,  and  every  little  heart  beat  with 
quick  emotion,  for  all  felt  that  his  feelings  toward 
them,  were  those  of  the  most  aiFectionate  parent, 
and  every  word  he  spoke  fell  on  listening  ears. 

He  was  not  addicted  to  writing  for  the  press.  I 
am  not  aware  that  any  of  his  sermons  have  been 
printed.  In  May,  1812,  just  before  the  declaration 
of  war  against  Great  Britain,  he  delivered  a  short 
address  to  a  company  of  soldiers,  then  recently  en- 
listed and  about  to  depart,  which  in  his  own  words, 


118  JUDGE  ELMEK'S  eulogy. 

was  "  by  request  (unexpectedly)  of  the  officers  and 
others,  submitted  to  publicity."  This  address  as 
now  read,  is  in  nowise  remarkable,  but  it  made  a 
deep  and  lasting  impression  on  his  hearers,  some  of 
whom  could  repeat  much  of  it  from  memory,  and 
many  preserved  the  paper  containing  it,  among  their 
choicest  relics.  He  spoke  from  a  heart  deeply  im- 
bued with  the  feelings  of  a  true  patriot ;  he  knew 
from  experience  the  dangers  and  trials  of  a  soldier's 
life ;  and  he  was  anxious  to  benefit  his  hearers. 
First  addressing  to  the  soldiers  suitable  cautions  and 
admonitions,  he  closed  with  the  affecting  words  : — 
"  And  now,  in  taking  leave  of  you  with  brotherly 
affection,  we  bid  you  a  cordial  farewell,  praying  that 
God  would  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping,  give  you 
prosperous  success  and  a  safe  return."  Then  to  the 
people,  he  inculcated  the  duty  of  contributing  to 
the  comfortable  support  of  the  soldiers.  ^'  And  at 
the  call  of  proper  authority,  let  us  cheerfully  and 
promptly  aid  their  exertions,  and  consider  them  not 
as  military  slaves,  dragged  into  service  by  a  press- 
gang,  but  in  the  honorable  character  of  volunteer 
citizens,  going  forth  to  put  themselves  between  us 
and  the  hostile  foe,  defenders  of  our  rights  and 
avengers  of  our  wrongs.  Let  us  boldly  aid  the 
Christian  cause,  by  frowning  upon  vice  and  wicked- 
ness of  every  kind  and  encouraging  the  duties  re- 
quired by  the  gospel.  And  as  the  battle  is  not  al- 
ways to  the  strong,  let  us  implore  the  blessings  of 
Almighty  God,  that  he  would  bless  rulers  and  peo- 
ple with  wisdom  and  grace  to  rightly  perform  their 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  119 

respective  duties,  that  he  would  preserve  our  armies 
in  camp  from  wasting  sickness,  shield  them  in  the 
day  of  battle  and  give  them  the  victory,  and  cause 
the  war  in  its  consequences  to  be  subservient  to  the 
best  interests  of  mankind  and  Divine  glory." 

With  this  spirit,  he  addressed  himself  to  his  peo- 
ple from  w^eek  to  week,  with. unwearied  assiduity, 
carefully  adapting  his  discourses  to  the  times  and 
seasons.  There  was  much  sameness  of  manner,  com- 
bined with  a  great  variety  of  topics.  In  his  ser- 
mons, and  in  his  conversation,  he  was  accustomed 
to  dwell  very  much,  upon  the  ove^Tuling  providence 
of  God,  in  which  he  put  his  trust.  When  a  drought 
occurred,  he  would  appoint  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  taking  care  to  say.  If  it  pleases  God  to  send 
us  rain  before  that  time,  we  will  make  it  a  day  of 
thanksgiving  and  praise.  And  such  faith  did  the 
community  come  to  have  in  these  special  interces- 
sions, that  it  became  a  common  remark  far  out  of 
the  bounds  of  his  parish,  "  We  shall  soon  have  rain; 
Mr.  Osborn  has  appointed  a  day  for  fasting  and 
prayer." 

5fC  5ji  ^  ^  ^  SjC  5JC 

Acceptable  and  successful  as  a  preacher,  he  was 
still  more  beloved  in  the  sick-room  and  at  funerals. 
Who  that  has  ever  been  present,  can  forget  his  man- 
ner of  speaking  to  the  mourning  friends  of  the  de- 
ceased? Ready  at  all  times  to  ^'rejoice  with  them 
that  rejoice,  and  weep  with  them  that  weep,"  per- 
haps no  one  ever  more  skilfully  adapted  his  remarks 
to  the  circumstances  of  each  particular  case,  and  no 


120  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY. 

one  was  ever  beard  with  more  aiFectionate  rever- 
ence. Speaking  manifestly  from  a  full  heart,  he  yet 
maintained  a  calm  demeanor,  and  spoke  in  a  clear 
and  distinct  tone,  eminently  calculated  to  soothe  and 
edify.  So  true  was  his  sympathy  and  so  delicate 
and  nice  was  his  perception  of  what  was  due  to  his 
hearers,  that  he  could  speak  with  a  plain  directness, 
which  very  few  could  imitate.  He  was  felt  to  be  a 
sincere  friend  and  a  wise  counsellor. 

In  social  intercourse  he  was  kind  and  courteous, 
and  was  always  an  acceptable  guest.  Like  most 
men  of  naturally  quick  temperament,  he  had  a  strong 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  although  always  mind- 
ful of  his  holy  calling,  would  often  let  off  a  flash  of 
wit  or  tell  a  humorous  anecdote  with  no  little  zest ; 
and  being  able  to  accommodate  himself  readily  to 
every  description  of  persons,  he  gained  access  to 
those  who  to  others  were  almost  inaccessible,  and 
was  thus  enabled  to  enlarge  the  sphere  of  his  use- 
fulness. At  his  own  house  he  was  a  model  of  hos- 
pitality and  kindness,  and  let  no  one  depart,  with- 
out exciting  the  wish  to  see  him  again.  I  remem- 
ber calling  there  a  few  years  ago,  after  his  faculties 
had  began  to  fail,  but  while  he  still  retained  his  re- 
collection, and  could  converse  intelligently,  with  a 
clerical  friend,  who  afterwards  remarked  how  much 
he  was  struck  with  his  cordial  manner,  his  grateful 
sense  of  attention,  and  especially  his  mode  of  tak- 
ing leave  of  us,  following  us  out  of  the  gate,  thank- 
ing us  for  the  visit,  and  showing  as  well  as  express- 
ing how  much  he  was  pleased,  looking  after  us  until 


JUDGE  Elmer's  eulogy.  121 

we  were  out  of  sight.  From  my  first  knowledge  of 
him,  his  manner  was  the  same.  I  saw  .him  for  the 
last  time,  about  a  fortnight  before  his  death,  and  al- 
though I  could  not  be  sure  that  he  knew  who  I  was, 
when  he  followed  me  to  the  door,  and  in  his  old 
pleasant  cordial  manner  thanked  me  for  the  visit, 
and  expressed  his  hope  that  we  should  meet  again, 
if  not  here,  in  heaven.  He  seemed  the  same  kind, 
courteous  Christian  friend  I  had  always  found  him, 
during  the  more  than  fifty  years  of  our  acquaint- 
ance. 

Whatever  might  be  thought  of  him  as  a  preacher, 
he  was  mighty  in  prayer.  Long  before  I  could  ap- 
preciate his  excellence  in  this  respect,  I  remember 
to  have  heard  his  prayers  spoken  of  as  peculiarly 
acceptable  to  devout  minds.  They  were  the  prayers 
of  a  man  used  to  converse  with  God.  After  his 
faculties  had  so  decayed  that  he  could  not  remember 
the  names  of  his  children  and  grand  children,  he 
could  lead  the  devotions  of  the  family  and  of  a  con- 
gregation, with  entire  propriety.  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  in  this  building,  and  took  an  afiecting 
leitve  of  the  place  where  he  had  so  long  stood  as  an 
ambassador  for  Christ,  in  the  year  1850,  and  attend- 
ed public  worsliip  for  the  last  time  at  Cedarville, 
about  three  months  before  he  died,  closing  the  ser- 
vices with  some  appropriate  and  impressive  remarks 
to  the  people,  and  a  touching  prayer  to  the  God  and 
Saviour  he  had  so  long  served. 

Very  few   ministers  of  the   gospel,  could  be   so 
11 


122  JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY. 

aptly  described  in  the  language  of  Cowper,  as  Ethan 
0  shorn. 

''  Would  I  describe  a  preacher,  such  as  Paul, 

Were  he  on  earth,  would  hear,  ajiprove  and  own, 

Paul  should  himself  direct  me.     I  would  trace 

His  master  strokes,  and  draw  from  his  design. 

I  would  express  him  simple,  grave,  sincere. 

In  doctrine  uncorrupt ;  in  language  plain, 

And  plain  in  manner ;  decent,  solemn,  chaste, 

And  natural  in  gesture  ;  much  impress'd 

Himself,  as  conscious  of  his  awful  charge, 
•  And  anxious,  mainly,  that  the  flock  he  feeds 

May  feel  it  too  ;  affectionate  in  look, 

And  tender  in  address,  as  well  becomes 

A  messenger  in  grace  to  guilty  men. 

He  'stablishes  the  strong,  restores  the  weak. 

Reclaims  the  wanderer,  binds  the  broken  heart ; 

And  arm'd  himself  in  panoply  complete 

Of  heavenly  temper,  furnishes  with  arms, 

Bright  as  his  own,  and  trains  by  every  rule 

Of  holy  discipline,  to  glorious  war. 

The  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect." 

In  the  fullness  of  time  he  has  been  gathered  to  his 
fathers..  We  do  not  sorrow.  His  body  has  been  con- 
signed to  the  tomb,  his  spirit  has  ascended,  as  we 
trust,  to  his  heavenly  home.  But  the  good  that  men 
do  lives  after  them.  His  faithful  teaching,  his  fer- 
vent prayers,  and  his  Christian  life,  have  not  been  in 
vain.  Many  of  his  spiritual  children,  lie  around 
him  in  this  graveyard,  where  he  buried  the  fathers 
and  mothers  and  very  many  of  the  children  of  his 
flock.     Some  survive,  to  cherish  his  memory,  and  to 


JUDGE  ELMER'S  EULOGY.  123 

be  living  witnesses  of  the  power  of  the  gospel  he 
preached.  If  there  are  any  within  the  sound  of  my 
voice  who  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  his  faithful  warn- 
ings and  earnest  entreaties ;  let  me  affectionately 
remind  them,  that  soon  they  must  stand  at  the  judg- 
ment bar  of  Christ,  and  there  meet  the  pastor,  who 
in  the  long  suffering  mercy  of  God,  was  spared  to 
them  so  many  years.  If  "he  that  despised  Moses' 
law,  died  without  mercy  under  two  or  three  wit- 
nesses ;  of  how  much  sorer  punishment,  suppose  ye, 
shall  he  be  thought  worthy,  who  hath  trodden  under 
foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  hath  counted  the  blood  of 
the  covenant,  wherewith  he  was  sanctified,  an  un- 
holy thing,  and  hath  done  despite  unto  the  Spirit  of 
grace." 


MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS, 


It  is  a  sadly  pleasant  duty,  wliich  lias  been  assign- 
ed me,  my  respected  friends,  of  speaking  to  you  tlius 
to-day,  as  from  beside  the  grave  of  our  late  lament- 
ed and  venerated  pastor.  It  is  a  sad  duty ;  for  a 
few  months  ago  I  bad  hoped  that  when  this  day 
should  arrive,  we  should  be  gathered  here  just  as 
now,  but  with  him  in  the  midst  of  us,  laden  with 
the  mercies  of  a  full  hundred  years,  and,  while  re- 
ceiving our  congratulations,  once  more — if  only  once 
more — pronouncing  upon  us  his  blessing. 

How  sadly  this  occasion  contrasts  with  that  anti- 
cipation. Yet,  as  it  hath  pleased  God  to  remove 
him  from  us,  the  duty  is  now  a  pleasant  one,  of 
doing  what  we  may  to  call  to  mind  the  many  things 
of  his  long  life  among  us  which  we  desire  to  have 
in  lasting  remembrance,  and  for  the  sake  of  which, 
especially,  we  have  to-day  reared  this  monumental 
stone. 

It  is  as  a  parishioner,  more  particularly,  that  I 
would  speak  of  Father  Osborn  : — it  is  as  one  upon 
whose  infant  head  he  laid  his  hand  in  baptism, — as 
one  who  often,  in  all  the  growing  years  of  childhood, 
saw  his  beaming  face  in  the  Sabbath-school,  and 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  125 

heard  there  that  uniform  salutation  so  familiar  to 
you  all, — as  one  who  dwelt  for  many  years  amidst 
the  breakings  of  the  word  and  the  bread  of  life  from 
his  lips  and  hands, — as  one  whose  parents'  and 
grandparents'  marriages  he  solemnized,  and  some 
of  whose  remoter  ancestors  he  buried, — as  one  thus 
nearly  and  tenderly  related  to  him,  like  as  were  so 
many  of  you ; — it  is  as  one  of  his  parishioners,  and 
in  the  name  of  all  his  parishioners  present,  that  I 
would  speak  of  him. 

I  could  have  wished,  indeed,  that  the  duty  of 
speaking  thus  as  a  parishioner  had  fallen  to  the  lot 
of  some  older  person — t)f  some  one  whose  memory 
reaches  farther  back  upon  his  life,  and  comprises  a 
greater  variety  of  its  occurrences;  for  although 
thirty  years  have  gone  since  my  recollections  of  him 
begin, — since  I  first  sat  in  yon  pew,  next  the  front, 
and  looked  up  into  his  face  as  he  stood  here,  and 
childishly  feared  lest  this  sounding-board  should  fall 
upon  him, — although  thirty  years  have  gone  since 
then,  yet  he  was  then  fulfilling  his  threescore  and 
ten ;  so  that  it  is  only  as  an  old  man,  and  a  very  old 
man,  that  I  have  any  recollection  of  him  whatever. 
•  This  deficiency  has  been  made  up,  perhaps  so  far  as 
could  be,  by  the  honored  gentleman  who  has  pre- 
ceded me,  speaking,  as  he  has  done,  with  the  inter- 
est and  affection  of  long  acquaintance,  and  as  a  de- 
scendant of  one  who  here  occupied  the  pastor's 
place  long  before  Father  Osborn.  I  say  the  defici- 
ency has  been  made  up,  so  far  as  could  be ;  for  who 
is  there  among  us  old   enough  to  recall  his  early 

11* 


126  REV.  MR.  LURT'S  ADDRESS. 

years?  I  see  here  and  there,  among  his  former 
flock,  a  form  bowed  down  with  the  weight  of  years, 
but  even  these  were  young  to  him.  The  last  survi- 
ving member  of  his  original  congregation,  after 
lingering  the  last  for  many  years,  as  you  know,  long 
since  died.  Yes;  he  was  a  rare  exception  in  the 
matter  of  age.  We  are  all  children  compared  with 
him,  whose  life,  stretching  backward  and  forward, 
touched  upon  six  generations. 

We  celebrate  these  services  for  the  centenarian. 
And  centuries  !  these  are  not  periods  in  the  life  of  a 
man,  but  in  the  life  of  nations  and  the  world's  his- 
tory. Yet,  what  an  affecting  view  we  have  of  the 
shortness  of  life  and  the  speedy  flight  of  successive 
generations,  when  we  think  that  even  the  long  life 
of  the  venerated  deceased  was  short,  when  compared 
with  the  brief  existence  of  many  things  about  us. 

He  is  gone ;  but  this  house,  which  was  new  when 
he  was  young,  still  stands.  He  is  gone;  but  that 
hickory  tree  yonder,  which  throws  its  evening 
shadow  on  these  windows,  which  lived  before  this 
house  was  built,  against  which  my  grandfather  lean- 
ed his  gun  when  this  roof  was  raised, — that  tree 
waves  its  limbs  as  if  in  benedictions  on  the  pastor's 
grave  hard  by,  and  still  is  young. 

It  is  fit,  my  friends,  to  engage  to-day  in  such  ser- 
vices as  these.  You  have  done  well  to  devise  and 
execute  the  purpose  which  this  monument  speaks. 

In  honoring  the  memory  of  one  so  aged,  you 
honor  the  memory  of  your  own  fathers,  and  fathers' 
fathers,  whose  companion  and  friend  he  was. 


iiEV.  MR.  burt's  address.  127 

In  honoring  bis  memory,  you  pay  a  tribute  of  de- 
served praise  to  the  heroes  who  won  our  nation's  in- 
dependence ;  for  at  the  call  of  his  country,  as  you 
haye  heard,  in  the  ardor  of  youth,  he  threw  down 
his  books,  and  put  off  his  student's  gown,  and  catch- 
ing up  musket  and  sword,  hastened  to  the  standard 
of  Washington. 

In  honoring  his  memory,  you  fulfill  the  decree  of 
Heaven,  that  '^the  memory  of  the  just  shall  be 
blessed,"  and  you  avoid  the  -reproach  of  Heaven, 
which  cries,  "The  righteous  perisheth  and  no  man 
layeth  it  to  heart."  Ah  !  he  was  a  good  man.  The 
common  phrase  in  all  this  region,  as  you  know,  has 
been, — "  as  good  as  Father  Osborn."  And  if  they 
whom  the  world  calls  great  receive  applause  and 
win  a  monument, — nay,  if  it  be  so  ofttimes  with 
even  those  who  excel  only  in  what  is  fiendish  in  our 
nature,  and  whose  career  is  one  of  crime  and  desola- 
tion, shall  not  he  be  honored  who  adorned  himself 
with  heavenly  graces  and  scattered  blessings  all 
along  his  pathway  ? 

'Nor  is  this  all ;  but  more  than  all  this,  in  honoring 
his  memory  you  honor  him  who,  for  more  than  half 
a  century,  well  and  faithfully  discharged  the  duty  of 
a  Christian  Pastor  among  us.  '^  I  magnify  mine  of- 
fice." Where  is  an  office  so  sacred  and  so  honor- 
able ?  An  ambassador  of  God — a  minister  of  Jesus — 
a  herald  of  salvation, — shall  we  not  have  him  in  re- 
vered remembrance  who,  more  fully  than  most  who 
occupy  this  office,  felt  its  weighty  import,  and  strove 
to  meet  its  large  demands  ?     And  where,  further,  I 


128  REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 

may  ask,  is  an  office  that  so  connects  with  it  the 
tender  and  precious  interests  of  men, — that  enters  so 
familiarly  and  fully  into  the  aiFairs  of  social  and  per- 
sonal life,  acquainting  itself  with  them  and  busying 
itself  about  them  in  loving  sympathy  ? 

The  pastor  is  not  only  the  interpreter  of  the  ora- 
cles of  God  in  the  gathered  assembly ;  he  is  a  visitor 
in  every  home,  and  a  personal  friend  of  every  indi- 
vidual. In  every  crisis  of  life  he  is  at  hand,  sooth- 
ing in  sickness,  comforting  in  sorrow,  counseling 
in  perplexity,  and,  at  last,  accompanying  the  dying, 
as  far  as  he  may,  toward  the  brooding  shadow^s  of 
the  dark  and  solitary  valley ;  and  in  all  this  he  is  the 
friend  of  the  soul,  drawing  from  earth,  leading  to 
Christ,  and  inspiring  with  heavenly  hopes.  O  there 
is  none  who  so  fully  and  so  tenderly  interweaves  his 
whole  life  with  that  of  each  of  a  community,  and 
draws  after  him  and  binds  upon  him  such  a  train  of 
ardent  and  holy  affections,  as  the  faithful  and 
loving  pastor.  And  such  a  pastor  was  he,  whom 
we  mourn.  Kay,  his  career,  extending  through 
generation  after  generation,  and  ever  widening  and 
deepening  its  sympathies  and  cementing  its  affec- 
tions, identified  with  him  the  life  of  this  community 
to  a  degree  seldom  known.  He  has  been  a  repre- 
sentative character  among  us,  and  his  biography 
would  be  the  history  of  Fairfield,  in  the  most  im- 
portant respects,  for  the  period  which  it  would 
cover. 

As  one,  then,  venerable  for  years;  as  one  who 
took  his  young  life  into  his  hands  for  our  country's 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  129 

deliverance ;  as  one  radiant  with  the  virtues  which 
God  approves  and  which  bless  mankind ;  and  as 
our  worthy,  long-tried,  long-trusted,  ever-loving 
pastor,  we  do  well  to  honor  him  and  call  him  to  re- 
membrance, by  monuments  more  enduring  than 
marble. 

It  is  fit,  too,  to  celebrate  these  services  in  this 
place.  Here,  rather  than  any  where  else,  did  he 
perform  his  life's  work.  And  so  little  comparative- 
ly has  this  house  been  occupied  since  he  ceased 
from  his  active  labors,  it  seems  sacred  to  his  memo- 
ry alone. 

All  things  here  speak  of  him.  This  was  his  pul- 
pit, this  his  Bible ;  these  walls  echo  his  voice ;  this 
room  is  pervaded  by  his  presence.  I  can  almost  see 
him — can  you  not  ? — coming  in  at  yon  door,  walk- 
ing up  that  aisle,  treading  these  pulpit  steps  so  sol- 
emnly, hanging  his  hat  on  that  knob,  (the  right 
hand  one,  not  the  left,)  closing  the  door  of  the  pul- 
pit as  he  seats  himself,  and  then  giving  himself  to 
brief  meditation. 

At  such  a  time  as  this,  the  heart  prizes  the  recol- 
lection of  the  little  peculiarities  which  marked  the 
object  of  its  affection. — And  thus  in  picturing  him 
to  ourselves  in  the  pulpit,  we  love  to  think  of  such 
things  as  these,  the  frequent  wrinkling  of  his  fore- 
head, his  occasional  rising  on  his  toes,  his  opening 
his  eyes  for  a  moment,  and  at  regular  intervals,  in 
prayer. — We  all  remember  the  form  in  w^hich  his 
sermons  were  cast, — of  the  doctrinal  and  the  practi- 
cal part,  and  the  habitual  performances  with  watch 


130  REV.  MR.  hurt's  ADDRESS. 

and  spectacles  and  handkerchief,  which  separated 
the  two  parts  in  the  delivery. — We  call  to  mind 
certain  peculiarities  of  language ;  *  particularly  the 
pronunciation  tlioufore  for  therefore^  the  suhstitution 
of  who  and  which  for  that  in  his  reading,  as  also  the 
suhstitution  of  shall  for  will,  in  cases  where  Scottish 
usage  had  prevailed  against  correct  English. — So  we 
recollect  the  heartiness  with  which  he  joined  in  the 
singing,  and  the  readiness  and  interest  with  which 
he  caught  and  used  our  new  tunes,  notwithstanding 
his  natural  partiality  for  the  older  music. — And 
who,  that  has  ever  heard  his  preaching,  will  forget 
that  silvery  voice,  so  distinct  in  its  articulation,  that 
the  dull  ear  of  age  caught  every  quavering  syllable 
of  his  calm  utterance,  when  the  vociferations  of 
others  would  give  the  impression  only  of  a  confused 
noise. — And  although  he  could  hardly  he  called  an 
orator,  yet  we  all  remember  the  serious  earnestness 
which  marked  his  speaking.  Yes  ;  and  there  were 
times  when  this  earnestness  kindled  into  eloquence. 
It  has  often  seemed  to  me,  that  I  never  stood  so 
nearly  face  to  face  with  the  Great  Judge  of  all,  as 
when,  sometimes,  in  the  closing  of  his  sermon  on  a 
summer  day,  he  would  turn  and  look  through  these 
open  windows  out  upon  the  churchyard,  with  its 
great  congregation  of  slumbering  occupants,  and  re- 
ferring to  the  scene,  turn  again  to  us,  and,  with 
roused  voice,  press  the  exhortations  of  his  subject 
by  the   consideration   of  death   and  the  life   after 

*  See  Note  A. 


KEV.  MR.  BUHT'S  ADDRESS.  131 

death.  Often,  at  such  times,  I  thought  the  archan- 
gel's trump  might  the  next  moment  sound,  and  I 
could  not  but  imagine  the  pious  dead  of  the  church- 
yard trooping  forth  from  their  graves,  and,  in  robes 
of  white,  pluming  themselves  to  meet  the  Lord  in 
the  air,  while  I  trembled,  lest  the  day  of  my  doom 
had  come.  At  such  times,  he  was  "the  old  man 
eloquent."  He  seemed  indeed  transfigured  and  in- 
spired for  a  moment, — a  heavenly  messenger  let 
down  into  the  midst  of  us,  to  ply  the  ministries  of 
God's  mercy  by  the  urgencies  of  the  world  to  come. 
And  what  a  congregation  was  that  which  here 
listened  to  his  discourse.  For  a  long  time,  almost 
all  Fairfield  worshipped  in  this  place.  And,  even 
within  my  own  memory,  the  Sabbath  assembling  of 
his  congregation,  in  the  summer  season,  was  a  sight 
to  behold.  Kecall  the  scene.  Out  from  Cedandlle 
on  the  south,  Fairton  on  the  north,  Sayre's  Neck 
and  Back  'Neck,  on  the  west,  and  even  the  woods  on 
the  east,  come  pouring  uncovered  wagons  and 
great  covered  carriages,  and  throngs  of  people  on 
foot,  men  and  women  and  children.  The  grove  of 
oaks  at  the  end  of  the  church,  and  the  road  in  front, 
on  both  sides  of  it  for  a  long  way,  at  length  are  fill- 
ed with  the  vehicles.  Those  persons  arriving  be- 
fore the  time  go — some  at  once  into  the  church, 
others  into  the  churchyard,  others  again  into  the 
grove  or  dooryard.  By  and  by,  but  punctual  to  the 
hour,  the  pastor  is  seen  slowly  approaching.  *     He 

*  See  Note  B. 


132  REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 

leaves  -his  carriage  in  the  grove.  He  advances  up 
the  dooryard,  his  summer  gown  flowing"  in  the 
breeze.  His  coming  is  the  signal  for  the  scattered 
multitude  to  assemble  and  enter  and  be  seated.  And 
soon  they  come  sweeping  in,  filling  the  seats  below 
and  the  seats  above,  and  often  running  over  into 
stairways  and  aisles. — Aye,  this  broad  gallery  was 
crowded  then,  back  to  the  wall.  It  contained  in- 
deed a  large  proportion  of  the  entire  audience,  and 
perhaps  it  was  this  nearly  even  division  of  the  as- 
sembly which  suggested  the  classification  of  his 
hearers  which  the  pastor  often  made  in  his  preaching 
— a  classification  which  I  have  never  heard  made 
elsewhere  or  by  any  one  else,  and  in  this  case  made 
upon  what  principle  or  for  what  purpose  I  have 
never  exactly  known,  the  classification  of  "  all  who 
are  here  present,  either  below  or  in  the  gallery." 

It  is  not  my  desire  to  dissect  very  closely  the 
character  of  our  departed  father  and  friend.  Our 
hearts  are  full  of  reverence  and  esteem  for  him,  and 
we  wish  to  look  upon  him  as  our  hearts  picture  him, 
and  receive  the  impression  of  his  character  and  life 
as  a  whole,  and  in  its  broad  native  colors.  Yet  the 
picture,  as  a  whole,  has  its  strong  features ;  and  it 
may  be  w^ell  to  glance  at  some  of  the  prominent 
points  of  his  character— those  of  which  we  cannot 
but  think  when  we  think  of  him  at  all,  and  those 
which  most  of  all  made  him  what  he  w^as. 

If  to  any  extent  I  should  traverse  the  field  gone 
over  by  the  gentleman  who  has  preceded  me,  it  still 
may  not  be  useless ;  for  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  133 

witnesses  every  word  shall  be  established.  Good  is 
the  word,  as  already  iutimated,  most  often  used  con- 
cerning him.  And  perhaps  his  goodness  was  his 
most  prominent  attribute.  He  was  good,  if  by  that 
we  understand  that  he  was  remarkably  free  from 
imperfections  of  character  generally,  and  possessed, 
in  remarkable  degree  and  combination,  the  various 
virtues  and  graces. — He  was  a  holy  man. — And  he 
was  good,  if  by  that  we  understand  that  he  wa.^  un- 
selfish and  benevolent.  His  was  a  gentle  disposi- 
tion, and  an  even  course  of  life  spent  in  doing  good. 
He  wished  well — he  thought  well — he  spoke  well, 
of  every  one  possible ;  and  he  acted  as  he  felt  and 
spoke.  This  gentleness  may  not  have  been  wholly 
natural.  It  was,  no  doubt,  in  part  acquired.  He 
was  not  without  a  certain  natural  quickness  of 
temper,  and  in  view  of  what  was  mean  and  wrong 
he  was  capable  of  a  read}'-  indignation.  But  a  St. 
John  was  once  a  Boanerges,  while  it  may  be  said  of 
Father  Osborn,  that  his  natural  temper  was,  on  the 
whole,  singularly  amiable,  and  that  all  his  life  long 
he  was  characterized  bv  eminent  2:entleness. 

Yet  the  word  good  does  not  fully  describe  him. 
The  word  kind,  in  its  primitive  meaning,  must  be 
added  to  the  word  good.  He  felt  his  kindred  with 
mankind.  He  was  of  ready  and  tender  and  wide 
sympathies.  His  was  not  an  intense  and  rugged 
personality  walling  him  off  from  his  fellow  men; 
but  in  him  humanity  prevailed  over  individuality, 
and  he  came  in  contact  with  others  at  many  points. 
He  thouo-ht  that  "  nothino'  of  human  concern  was 
12 


IM  KEV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 

foreio'ii  to  himself,"  and  reckoned  as  liis  friends  all 
wliom  he  could  befriend.  And  with  such  a  nature, 
stimulated  and  sanctilied,  he  could  not  but  have 
power.  Yes  ;  he  was  good  if  he  was  not  great;  and 
if  he  had  not  genius  he  had  geniqlity^  and  these  two 
are  perhaps  more  nearly  allied  than  we  commonly 
think.  As  minor  traits,  suitable  to  be  simply 
mentioned  here,  were  his  courteousness  and  cordial- 
ity of  manners,  his  facetious  humor,  and  his  general 
and  pleasing  simplicity — all  of  which  might  readily 
be  illustrated.* 

His  piety  was  like  his  general  character.  Its  ex- 
ercises were  of  the  calmer  sort.  His  faith  was  sim- 
ple, his  love  hearty,  his  peace  ever  flowing. 

His  theology  answered  to  his  religious  experience. 
With  no  manifest  exhibition  of  the  Divine  sove- 
reignty in  his  conversation,  such  as  that  seen  in  the 
case  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  and  with  no  stormy  con- 
flicts of  soul,  such  as  WTung  from  that  Apostle  the 
exclamation,  "  0  wretched  man  that  I  am,"  and 
wrought  in  him  the  profoundest  sense  of  his  abso- 
lute and  immediate  dependence  on  the  grace  of  God, 
it  was  natural  that  Father  Osborn  should  delight  to 
dwell  on  the  more  general  aspects .  of  the  divine 
favor. 

His  preaching  addressed  the  conscience  and  the 
heart  more  fully  than  the  understanding.  It  made 
statements  of  the  truth  rather  than  analytic  exhibi- 
tions.    It  was  popular   rather  than  profound.     He 

^  See  Note  C. 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  135 

commended  tlie  simple  truths  of  salvation  to  every 
man's  conscience  in  the  sio-ht  of  God.  And  he 
rung  these  again  and  yet  again,  until  they  sounded 
loud  and  long  through  the  soul. 

His  2?astoral  intercourse  was  familiar  and  confiden- 
tial. He  will  he  especially  remembered  for  his 
words  of  comfort  in  the  house  of  mourning,  and  at 
the  newly-made  grave.  *  He  renewed  his  youth 
perpetually  by  perpetual  intercourse  with  the  young. 
And  not  only  was  his  heart  a  fresh  fountain  for  new 
personal  sympathies,  but  he  kept  pace  with  the 
moral  and  religious  progress  of  the  age.  Early  he 
caught  the  missionary  spirit.  He  was  the  fast  friend 
of  the  Sabbath-school,  and  rehearsed  the  story  of 
E-obert  Raikes  with  an  ever  increasing  admiration 
for  the  founder  of  Sabbath-schools.  He  stood  in  the 
van  of  the  temperance  movement ;  he  was  an  early 
and  active  supporter  of  the  Bible  Society ;  and  he  ap- 
preciated and  urged,  as  few  others  in  these  parts 
have  done,  the  claims  and  glory  of  the  scheme  of 
African  colonization.  His  heart  indeed  embraced 
every  good  cause,  and  his  hands  were  ready  for 
every  good  work.  Considering  his  extreme  age, 
and  the  calmness  of  his  natural  disposition,  and  the 
comparative  seclusion  of  his  position,  this  spirit  of 
moral  and  religious  enterprise,  was,  in  my  opinion, 
as  remarkable  in  the  venerable  pastor  as  anything 
we  can  say  of  him. 

The  heroic  element  did  not  largely  enter  into  his 

*  See  Note  D. 


136  Ri]v.  Mil.  burt's  address. 

character,  and  his  leading  a  soklier's  life  for  even 
eight  months,  may  seem  an  incongruity.  Yet, 
while,  no  doubt,  he  well  fulfilled  his  duty  as  a  sol- 
dier, and  would  have  done  so  in  any  case,  it  was 
providentially  so  ordered,  that  he  was  never  called 
upon,  though  often  in  near  prospect  of  hattle,  and 
for  a  long  time  dwelling  amidst  the  hostile  move- 
ments of  great  armies,  and  almost  witnessing  terrific 
engagements  of  portions  of  them — he  was  never  call- 
ed upon  to  face  the  enemy  or  fire  a  gun.  It  may 
seem  amusing  to  sum  up  a  soldier's  history  in  the 
statement,  that  he  was  never  in  a  battle,  but  was  in 
a  retreat :  yet  it  was  something  to  have  been  in  the 
Retreat  of  the  Ten  Thousand  Greeks,  and  so  it  was 
something  to  have  been  in  the  retreat  across  'New 
Jersey,  in  the  dark  days  of  seventy-six.  He  was 
called  to  endure  as  a  soldier,  if  not  to  fight.  The 
virtue  exercised  is  none  the  less  valuable,  if  it  be  not 
so  brilliant ;  its  exercise  was,  perhaps,  more  in  accord- 
ance w^ith  his  general  character ;  and,  in  view  of  his 
after  history,  his  negative  career  as  a  soldier  is  not 
to  be  regretted.  We  are  glad  that  the  necessity 
was  never  laid  upon  him  who  loved  so  well  his 
every  fellow  man,  and  whose  life  was  to  be  occupied 
in  holy  and  merciful  ministries  to  men,  to  mingle 
in  the  infuriate  and  deadly  strife  of  battle. 

It  is  the  Providence  of  God  which  assigns  to  in- 
dividuals as  well  as  nations  the  bounds  of  their 
habitation ;  and  we  cannot  but  admire  the  wisdom 
and  goodness  which  appointed  to  Father  Osborn  his 
residence  in  Fairfield.  How  admirably  was  he 
adapted  to  his  position. 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  137 

Connecticut-born  himself,  he  found  here  a  people 
largely  of  l^ew  England  and  Connecticut  origin,  and 
a  people  eminently  Puritan  in  their  manners.  He 
was  not  a  prophet  in  his  own  country,  to  fail  of  any 
proper  honor ;  and  yet  he  was  a  prophet  in  his  own 
country,  to  perceive  at  once  the  ways  and  wants  of 
the  people,  and  to  know  how  to  apply  himself  to  his 
work  among  them.  He  had  not  violently  to  deny 
himself  the  habits  of  his  early  training,  but  happily 
to  preserve  and  perpetuate  them. — And  then,  this 
peninsular  position,  retired  from  the  great  thorough- 
fares of  business  and  travel — this  nook  of  eddying 
waters,  aside  from  the  great  rushing  tide — how  well 
it  met  his  quiet  disposition,  how  much  it  contribu- 
ted to  his  even  course  of  life, — nay,  how  materially 
it  contributed  under  God  to  the  wonderful  lengthen- 
ing of  his  life  and  the  consequent  significance  of  his 
life's  work. 

Old  age  is  not  the  fruit  of  the  hot  excitements 
and  intense  living  of  the  crowded  city.  It  is  the 
genial  suns  of  many  da^^s  and  the  gentle  dews  of 
many  nights  that  bring  on  the  harvest  to  its  richest 
ripening. — I  have  seen  the  graves  of  three  men  side 
by  side — successive  pastors  of  the  same  church, 
whose  united  pastorates  swelled  to  the  period  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years ;  but  it  was  a  country  church- 
yard in  which  they  lay,  and  it  was  a  peninsular  re- 
gion in  which  they  had  lived, — a  region  secluded 
and  quiet  bej^ond  even  this. — In  these  days  of  the 
almost  universal  restlessness  of  men,  in  these  days 
of  perpetual  movements  and  migrations,  when  the 


138  REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 

attractions  of  native  soil  and  homo  and  friends  dis- 
solve before  tlie  jirospect  of  new  lands  and  El  Do- 
rados, and  when  tlie  pastoral  tie  is  readily  sundered, 
and  great  bodies  of  ministers  are  always  to  be  found 
in  pastoral  transit  on  tlie  bigb  roads  of  travel ;  it  is 
well  and  delightful  here  and  there  to  see  an  exam- 
ple of  the  permanency  of  home,  and  of  the  peculiar 
and  happy  results  of  a  life-long  ministry. — We  bless 
God,  this  day,  that  to  such  a  place  as  this,  he  sent 
such  a  man  as  him  whom  we  mourn,  and  that  he 
permitted  him  here  to  exercise  his  ever-growing 
ministry  upon  children's  children,  and  live  out  his 
honored  days. 

It  is  no  marvel,  that  God  ordered  it  that  he  should 
live  to  such  an  extreme  age.  'No ;  painful  as  it  may 
be  to  witness  the  decay  of  the  powers  of  the  aged, 
and  burdensome  from  its  multiplied  infirmities  as 
old  age  may  often  be  to  itself  and  to  others,  I  do  not 
wonder  that  God  here  and  there  preserves  a  man 
to  extreme  old  age.  If  it  be  not  needful  for  such 
an  one  himself,  it  is  desirable  for  others.  If  God 
have  nothing  more  for  him  to  do,  it  is  much  for 
such  an  one  to  stand  in  the  midst  of  us  as  a  simple 
witness  for  the  Past.  For  not  only  do  w^e  dissolve 
our  connections  with  things  around  us — with  soil 
and  home  and  living  friends,  but  much  more  are 
we  disposed  to  cut  ourselves  oiF  from  the  Past — to 
lose  the  knowledge  of  its  events,  the  memory  of  its 
people,  the  sense  of  our  obligations  to  it,  and  the 
whole  impression  of  its  sacredness.  ITow  to  have  a 
representative  of  the  Past  among  us,  a  living  tradi- 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  139 

tion  before  our  eyes,  one  whose  life  rooted  in  a  re- 
mote veneration  blossoms  and  bears  fruit  in  the 
present, — is  it  not  of  manifest  and  essential  service? 
— These  aged  ones, — they  are  the  overlapping  mem- 
bers which  tie  the  separate  parts  of  the  rising 
fabric  ;  they  afford  the  needed  splicing  for  the  joints 
of  the  loose  construction ;  by  them  the  life  of  the 
race  finds  continuous  flow  through  its  successive 
generations. 

And  well  may  we  bless  God  to-day,  that  he  per- 
mitted our  departed  father  to  live  so  long,  after  his 
life's  work  seemed  to  have  been  finished.  He  was 
with  us,  not  only  to  afibrd  a  bond  of  union  among 
ourselves,  by  his  personal  influence  as  was  Joshua 
of  old  amidst  the  newly  scattered  tribes  of  Israel, 
but  he  was  with  us  also,  as  Joshua  was  with  his  bre- 
thren, to  testify  of  the  past,  to  remind  us  of  our  an- 
cestry and  ancestral  obligations,  and  to  teach  us 
to  adore  God's  wonders  of  old  which  our  fathers 
saw. 

Yet  he,  too,  must  die.  The  stroke  long  delayed 
must  at  length  come.  He  had  survived  so  many 
people,  he  had  buried  so  many  who  were  so  much 
younger  than  himself,  and  the  hand  of  time  rested 
so  gently  upon  him,  that,  aged  as  he  was,  we  did  not 
think  much  of  his  dying.  But  of  each  of  the  ante- 
diluvian patriarchs  whose  name  has  come  down  to 
us,  whose  life  numbered  almost  its  thousand  years 
—it  is  still  written—"  and  he  died."  "  The  fathers 
where  are  they,  and  the  prophets  do  they  live  for- 
ever?" 


140  REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 

And  what  a  death  was  that  of  our  pastor!  So 
loDg  a  life,  running  so  even  a  course,  we  should 
have  supposed,  would  end,  amidst  the  decays  of 
age,  in  a  gentle  and  peaceful  slumber.  We  might 
well  have  anticipated  a  calm  assurance,  a  steadfast 
faith,  and  a  ha]3py  hope,  fully  sustaining  him  to  the 
end ;  yet  beyond  this,  in  the  matter  of  religious  ex- 
periences, we  should  have  expected  little.  But  how 
different  the  fact!  How  much  beyond  this  the 
realitj> !  What  raptures  of  joy  and  what  seraphic 
devotions  kindled  about  his  departure,  how  for  days 
he  sung  the  music  of  heaven  and  walked  as  on  the 
borders  of  glory,  they  have  told,  who  so  fondly  and 
faithfully  watched  with  him,  and  he  has  recorded, 
who  occupies  so  worthily  the  old  pastor's  place. 

His  countenance  seemed  transfigured,  and  his  go- 
ing was  almost  a  translation.  We  feel,  in  hearing 
the  faithful  narrative  of  his  death,  that  had  we  been 
permitted,  we  should  have  watched  for  his  depar- 
ture, ready  to  cry,  "My  father,  my  father,  the  cha- 
riot of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof,"  and  to 
catch  his  falling  mantle. 

His  triumphant  death  was  due  under  God,  proba- 
bly, to  two  causes.  He  had  just  been  receiving  the 
fulfillment  of  his  unwearied  and  earnest  pra^^ers  for 
a  revival  of  religion  in  this  region  of  the  church. 
A  blessed  tide  of  spiritual  influences  had  set  in  upon 
Fairfield,  as  upon  many  other  portions  of  the  coun- 
try, and,  in  the  abundant  watering,  scores,  and  even 
hundreds,  were  incpiiring  after  the  Saviour  or  rejoic- 
ing in  the  hope  of  salvation.     The  cup  of  his  bless- 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  141 

ing  was  now  full.  It  w^as  his  to  say  exultingly  Avith 
the  aged  and  holy  Simeon,  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou 
thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation."  Moreover,  he  was  called  to  undergo 
great  bodily  suffering.  He  who  for  fourscore  ^^ears 
hardly  knew  the  meaning  of  pain,  in  his  last  days 
endured  its  sharp  conflicts  and  long  agonies.  His 
mortal  frame  was  wa-ecked  at  last,  when  just  about 
to  enter  a  quiet  harbor.  His  declining  sun,  just 
read}^  to  set,  passed  behind  a  storm-cloud  hanging 
low  on  the  horizon.  Aged  as  he  was,  he  yet  did 
not  die  from  old  age,  but  from  acute  disease,  such 
as  may  at  any  time  overtake  you  and  me,  and  before 
which  we  might  fall.  !N"ow  apart  from  such  expe- 
rience of  suffering,  probably  his  spiritual  exercises 
would  have  been  of  a  more  quiet  sort.  His  end 
would  have  been  peace,  yet  not  triumph.  But  under 
these  strokes  of  God's  hand  his  spirit  mounted 
higher  and  higher.  In  his  infirmity  the  power  of 
Christ  rested  on  him.  From  the  conflict  he  issued 
a  conqueror.  Palms  and  robes  of  white  were  already 
his,  as  one  coming  out  of  great  tribulation. 

We  cannot  now  wash  that  his  death  had  been 
longer  delayed.  Long  time  God  kept  him  from  his 
home  and  crown,  that  he  might  still  be  with  us. 
The  friends  of  his  youth,  and  nianhood's  prime,  and 
even  of  his  great  old  age,  had  passed  into  the  bless- 
ed mansions  in  advance  of  him.  The  attractions  of 
heaven  had  so  multiplied  before  him  and  brighten- 
ed upon  him,  his  exile  of  earth  and  of  age  must 
have  been  weary.     Yet  still  God  had  said  to  him — 


142  Rcv.  MR.  bukt's  address. 

"  A  little  longer :  Stay  tlie  aspiring  hope  :  Bear  the 
weariness  and  the  exile :  Abide  still  in  the  flesh." 
Ah !  it  was  because  this  was  more  needful  for  us. 
But  now,  through  a  glorious  death  he  has  entered 
into  peace  :  he  has  joined  the  companions  from  whom 
he  had  been  long  parted :  he  mingles  with  the  gen- 
eral assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born  :  he  looks 
on  the  face  of  the  Lamb,  and  rests  in  the  bosom  of 
God.  We  bless  God  that  he  was  so  long  with  us, 
but  we  cannot  mourn  that  his  death  was  not  lonorer 
delayed. 

Almost  a  translation  may  have  been  his  depar- 
ture, yet  not  quite.  His  bones  are  with  us.  We 
have  reverently  laid  them  to  rest.  In  this  church- 
yard, filled  with  those  to  whom  in  their  lives  he 
ministered  and  whom  in  death  he  buried,  all  that 
was  mortal  of  him  reposes.  Yet,  if  God  has  not 
translated  him,  as  Elijah,  but  called  him  to  die,  and 
if  God  has  not  buried  him  in  a  secret  place,  as 
Moses,  but  given  us  his  grave  to  have  in  the  midst 
of  us ;  we  would  not  abuse  the  privilege  thus  grant- 
ed us  to  any  vain  or  idolatrous  purpose,  but  even 
while  honoring  him  with  suitable  monuments  and 
memorials,  would  still  look  away  to  his  God  and 
ours. 

It  is  well,  as  already  said,  that  we  have  raised  this 
day,  this  beautiful  monumental  stone.  He  deserved 
such  a  token  of  our  respect;  and  there  let  it  stand 
to  honor  the  worthy  dead.  But  more  than  this,  we 
needed  to  raise  this  monumental  stone  for  the  sake 
of  ourselves ;  for  his  worthy  life  was  especially  em- 


REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS.  143 

ployed  ill  ministering  to  us  of  God's  great  grace  for 
our  eternal  blessing,  and  herein  had  for  us  its  signi- 
ficance. There,  then,  let  that  monument  stand,  to 
testify  our  gratitude  to  God  for  such  a  friend  and 
pastor.  There  let  it  stand,  to  remind  us  of  all  his 
prayers  and  labors,  in  which  he  sought  our  salvation. 
And  there  let  it  stand,  to  warn  us  of  the  solemnities 
of  the  judgment,  when  all  this  life  of  privilege  shall 
come  in  strict  review. 

And  as  often  as  we  come  from  the  places  of  our 
distant  sojourning,  to  stand  by  the  pastor's  grave 
and  read  the  inscriptions  on  this  monument,  or  as 
often  as  in  our  daily  familiar  goings  about  this  scene, 
we  catch  glimpses  of  its  shining  from  afar,  let  us 
call  to  mind  the  responsible  Past  and  the  retributive 
Future,  and  ponder  it  well,  that  as  he  once  stood  in 
the  midst  of  us  a  pleading  witness  for  God,  and  as 
his  monument  here  presides  conspicuous  over  the 
tablets  of  the  surrounding  dead,  so,  in  the  great  day, 
when  the  graves  shall  have  given  up  their  dead,  and 
we  all  have  appeared  before  the  great  white  throne, 
he  will  again  stand  in  the  midst  of  us,  a  foremost 
witness  in  the  great  matter  which  shall  decide  our 
destiny;  and  let  us  strive  evermore  to  be  found  then 
among  those  upon  whom  he  shall  smilingly  look  as 
they  flock  to  his  side,  and  of  whom  he  shall  say  in 
joyful  gratitude,  ^'Here,  Lord,  are  the  children 
whom  thou  hast  given  me." 


NOTES  TO  REV.  MR.  BURT'S  ADDRESS. 


Note  A.,  p.  130.  "  Certain  peculiarities  of  language."  Many  of  these  were  of  New 
England  origin.  Thus,  ho  was  accustomed  to  say  hum,  for  home,  and  ceounty,  for 
county.  Fairfield,  the  name  of  his  church,  and  township  of  residence,  he  always 
pronounced  Furjield. 

Note  B  ,  p.  131.  "  At  length,  but  punctual  to  the  hour,  the  pastor  is  seen  .slowly  ap- 
proaching."  Punctuality  was  one  of  the  strict  moralities  of  his  life.  The  following 
is  an  instance  of  his  punctuality.  In  the  spring  and  summer' which  closed  his  90th 
year,  he  made  his  last  visit  to  Connecticut,  traveling  alone,  excepting  as  he  chanced 
to  find  company.  Some  weeks  before  his  return,  he  wrote  to  his  friends  in  Fairfield, 
to  have  his  carriage  at  the  steamboat  wharf  for  him,  on  the  afternoon  of  July  1st. 
On  that  day,  the  writer  happened  to  be  in  Delaware,  with  a  friend,  waiting  to  return 
on  the  boat  which  would  bring  Father  Osbor.'i.  Knowing  his  appointment  to  be  at 
home  that  day,  the  writer  said  to  his  friend,  "  Now,  we  shall  find  Father  Osborn  on 
board,  you  may  be  sure,  if  he  has  met  with  no  accident."  Going  on  board,  we  im- 
mediately looked  for  him,  but  were  disappointed  at  not  finding  him  anywhere  in  the 
more  ordinary  resorts  of  passengei-s  We  began  to  fear  that  some  accident  had  be- 
fallen him  :  but  no  ;  ascending  the  hurricane  deck,  we  descried  him  in  the  extreme 
end  of  the  boat,  quietly  enjoying  the  ride,  and  happy  in  the  prospect  of  soon  meet- 
ing the  friends  whom  he  knew  to  be  expecting  him. 

Father  Osborn  was  not  famous  for  his  fast  driving — but  rather  the  contrary.  His 
favorite  horse,  Selim,  named  from  General  Marion's  fleet  charger, — perhaps  lucus  a 
nan  Ivcendo, — was  trained  j  ust  to  his  mind.  He  could  trot  over  a  bridge  at  any  time, 
without  violating  the  ordinance  against  going  "  faster  than  a  walk." 

NoteC,  p.  134.  "Minor  traits  of  character."  His  old  parishioners  speak  of  the 
exceeding  grace  of  manner,  with  which  he  would  conduct  a  strange  minister  into 
his  pulpit.  In  the  few  words  of  exhortation  which  he  usually  gave  at  the  close  of 
a  stranger's  sermon,  he  had  a  very  happy  way  of  commending  the  truth  spoken, 
without  flattering  the  speaker. 

He  was  by  no  means  a  retailer  of  jests  ;  yet  he  could  very  readily  offset  a  good 
story  told  by  another,  by  something  as  good  from  his  own  resources.  A  person  talk- 
ing with  him  about  the  exceeding  depravity  of  a  certain  people,  said,  "  I  have  been 
told  that  it  is  the  rule  with  them  to  lie,  and  the  exception  to  tell  the  truth."  "Yes," 
replied  Father  Osborn,  "  I  heard  of  one  of  them  being  prosecuted  for  telling  the 
truth,  because  it  deceived  everybody." 

His  cordiality  of  manner  was  visible  in  everything,  yet  perhaps  in  nothing  more 
strikingly  than  in  his  mode  of  shaking  hands.  It  was  rather  a  shaking  of  anns  than 
of  hands,  and  a,  peculiar  shaking  withal,  lateral  and  longitudinal,  vibrating  the  arm 
through  a  pretty  large  arc,  and  for  a  considerable  time. 

Father  Osborn  was  reared  to  the  observing  of  Saturday  night  as  a  part  of  the 
Sabbath.  This  was  not  a  universal  custom  in  his  congregation,  some  keeping  Sun- 
day night.  In  order  that  his  example  might  be  wholly  unexceptionable,  he  kept 
both  Saturday  and  Sunday  nights.  And  so  strict  was  he  in  his  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  it  was  commonly  reported  that  he  put  off  opening  his  letters  received  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  until  Monday  morning,  lest  their  contents  should  distract  hi.s 
Sabbath  meditations. 

In  connection  with  this  remark  about  his  conscientiousness,  it  may  be  said  that  his 
unaflected  piety  spoke  in  his  most  ordinary  conduct  and  words.  His  common  re- 
sponse to  inquiries  after  his  health  was  this,  "  Thanks  to  a  kind  Providence,  I  am 
quite  well." 

Note  D.,  p.  135.  "His  words  at  the  newly  made  grave."  How  solemn,  as  well  as 
tender,  were  these  words !  His  address  at  the  grave  was  nearly  the  same  at  all  fu- 
nerals, and  many  persons  may  recollect  its  language.  After  thanking  the  company 
"  in  the  name  and  on  behalf"  of  the  bereaved  mourners,  for  their  presence  and  sym- 
pathies, he  would  thus  speak  of  the  deceased — "  Go  to  his  late  home — he  is  not  there : 
go  to  the  house  of  God  on  which  he  was  so  constant  an  attendant — he  is  not  there. 
His  spirit  has  gone  to  God  who  gave  it,  while  his  body  lies  here  until  the  resurrec- 
tion morning,  when  the  archangel's  trump  shall  awake  the  dead  and  call  the  living 
to  judgment." 


